Aaron Rodgers injury: Packers continue to play with fire

Aaron Rodgers continues to not practice for the Green Bay Packers while he tries to finish the season playing on a fractured toe.

While it makes sense for the Green Bay Packers to not have quarterback Aaron Rodgers practice during the week with his fractured toe, it signifies how little margin for error they have the rest of the way.

Rodgers did not practice this week in the lead-up to the road game at the Baltimore Ravens. He last practiced for the Packers two Fridays ago before the home date vs. the division rival Chicago Bears. The last time he practiced before that was on Nov. 19, which was the Friday before the road loss to the division rival Minnesota Vikings. Rodgers has only practiced once in the last a month.

All the while, the Packers are 10-3 and have the best record in the NFC heading into Christmas.

Green Bay Packers are playing with fire, regarding Aaron Rodgers’ broken toe

“He did not do anything today other than our walk-through prior to practice,” said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur on Friday. “But as far as him playing in the game, we don’t have any concerns. Certainly, yeah, you’d love to have him get those live reps just for the timing purposes. But again, is it what it is. We’ll make the best of it, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be ready to go.”

No, Green Bay will not be the only team playing in Baltimore on Sunday whose quarterback is not 100 percent. Ravens signal-caller Lamar Jackson is dealing with a leg injury himself. All things equal, these are two of the best quarterbacks in the game today. However, both being banged up could lead to this game being more dictated by the defenses and the ground game than normal.

What this Rodgers injury signifies is the health of his toe going forward will determine if this team can get back to the Super Bowl or not. Getting the first-round bye is paramount for obvious reasons, but the Packers would still need to play seven more games to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Green Bay must be smart about this, as the Packers are going nowhere if Rodgers cannot play.

Don’t be shocked if Rodgers doesn’t practice more than once every other week going forward.