Green Bay Packers will not commit to starting quarterback for Thanksgiving

The Green Bay Packers started Scott Tolzien at quarterback for the second straight game on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Tolzien was the fifth quarterback started by the Packers since Brett Favre’s first start in 1992, joining Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, and Seneca Wallace, who started just a couple of weeks ago.

Tolzien drove the Packers down the field and ran for a touchdown on their very first possession of the game, but was pulled after the first drive of the second half. Green Bay hadn’t scored since that first drive, and coach Mike McCarthy said after the game that the Packers were “looking for a spark”.

Flynn provided that spark, leading the Packers to 16 straight unanswered points, until the offense stalled in the red zone on the final possession of regulation, and again on the first possession of overtime, ending both drives with Mason Crosby field goals. The Packers couldn’t move the ball at all during the rest of overtime, with Flynn looking quite rusty on a number of throws, overthrowing his target multiple times.

McCarthy wouldn’t rule Rodgers out yet for the Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions in Detroit, although Rodgers has yet to officially practice and the game is just four days away. He’s been throwing on the side in practice, so at least there’s that.

It would be very surprising if the Packers went back to Tolzien on Thursday afternoon. Keep in mind, Detroit was the team that Flynn threw six touchdown passes against in Week 17 of 2011, leading to his large free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Of course, the Packers also lost in Detroit by a 6-3 score back in 2010 when Rodgers was knocked out with a concussion and Flynn took over the reigns.

Ultimately, if Rodgers can’t go on Thanksgiving, expect McCarthy to roll with Flynn, as his experience and knowledge of the offense will surely give the Packers the best chance to win in what ultimately amounts to a must-win divisional contest.