Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has not yet been cleared to play this Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That’s horrible news if you’re a Packer fan, because this matchup hasmajor playoff implications. Because the Lions lost on Monday night, the Packers now control their own destiny. Winning would go a long way towards setting up a “winner takes all” Week 17 matchup with the Chicago Bears for the division, but it will be hard to win without Rodgers.
Yes, Matt Flynn orchestrated a brilliant second half comeback against the Dallas Cowboys to get Green Bay in this position, but not many will argue that Rodgers, a former league MVP, gives the Packers the best chance to get into the playoffs and make a run.
Rodgers hasn’t been cleared to play, though he is taking practice snaps, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel:
"Once again, both Matt Flynn and Aaron Rodgers took snaps with the No. 1 offense, but Flynn held the position of starter because, according to coach Mike McCarthy, Rodgers has not yet been cleared to return from a broken left collarbone.So, for the second straight week, the guy who plays Sunday will not have had the full complement of practice snaps a starter would normally take, and the rest of the offense is practicing with two quarterbacks with two very different skill sets."
The next landmark for Rodgers’ chances of playing will be Friday, and after that if he’s not cleared; he’s simply not cleared to go.
Until then, one could see the wisdom in getting him reps in practice to make sure that he’s somewhat accustomed to game speed again. With that said, will it hurt Flynn in the long run if he is indeed the starter again?
The Packers are playing a game with very little room for error. Both with Rodgers’ health, and in this weekend’s matchup with the Steelers.