Aaron Rodgers Pushing “Very Hard” To Play In Week 15

Update:

Jason Wilde reports that Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is pushing “very hard” to be allowed to play this week against the Panthers.

However, like others have said, Packers team doctor Pat McKenzie is know for being very conservative with players returning from injury. According to Wilde, there’s “genuine ongoing discussion/opinion-gathering” right now.

We’ll have more regarding Rodgers as the news is available.

[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, citing several sources informed of this situation, reports that Aaron Rodgers being cleared to return from injured reserve this week is “far more complex” than simply saying, “the bone has healed.”

As Rapoport explains, the Packers are consulting with other medical professionals regarding Rodgers’ collarbone and whether it’s safe for him to return to the field for Week 15’s game against the Panthers. Sources have described the situation as a “risk/reward” decision for Green Bay and there are some “loud and protective voices” who wonder if it’s worth putting him on the field to potentially injure himself again.

The Packers’ medical staff is known for being very conservative with their players, and while Rodgers may want to return this week, it’s possible the team may err on the side of caution.

Rapoport adds that it’s currently “difficult to predict which way it will go.”

Packers HC Mike McCarthy told reporters that they’re hoping to have a decision regarding Rodgers’ CT scan at some point on Tuesday. However, if there’s no word regarding Rodgers’ status today, we’ll have a much clearer idea of where things stand tomorrow, as the Packers will begin practicing for their Week 15 matchup.

Green Bay officially designated Rodgers to return from injured reserve last weekend, which opened a three-week window of time for the Packers to add him to their active roster or he’ll spend the duration of the 2017 season on injured reserve.

Rodgers suffered a displaced collarbone fracture that required two plates and 13 screws inserted to help solidify the fracture and accelerate the healing process.

Rodgers, 34, is a former first-round pick of the Packers back in 2005. He’s currently in the fifth year of his seven-year, $130.75 million contract that included $54 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $12.55 million and $19.8 million over the next two years of the agreement.

In 2017, Rodgers has appeared in six games for the Packers and thrown for 1,385 yards while completing 66.3 percent of his passes to go along with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 83 yards.

We’ll have more regarding Rodgers as the news is available.