Aaron Rodgers

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show this week, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gave some more insight into how the use of ayahuasca has helped him.

When asked by former Packers teammate A.J. Hawk if he feared death, Rodgers admitted that he used to until ayahuasca aided in him getting over that fear:

Rodgers said that being a teenager during the Y2K hysteria of 1999 and 2000 contributed to his fear of dying due to the belief that he would never be able to accomplish all of his goals if he died young.

He continued by saying that consuming the psychoactive drink ayahuasca and the psychedelic drug psilocybin changed his perspective and "relieved a lot of the stress" associated with the need to accomplish things before death.

Rodgers also said he has "seen the other side" through the use of ayahuasca, which has caused him to view death as more of a "next chapter" than an ending.

Prior to the start of the 2022 NFL season, Rodgers revealed that he first used ayahuasca in 2020, which preceded back-to-back NFL MVP campaigns for the future Hall of Famer.

This season has been a much bigger struggle for Rodgers and the Packers, though, as they are 5-8 and have struggled to find consistency on offense compared to previous years.

Much of that likely has to do with the departure of Rodgers' No. 1 target, wide receiver Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason.

Rodgers and the Packers are coming off a win over the Chicago Bears, though, and given how weak the NFC is, their playoff hopes are still alive.

Jordan Love may not have a clear path to the Green Bay Packers' starting quarterback job just yet, but general manager Brian Gutekunst at least believes the 24-year-old is good enough to start in the NFL.

Gutekunst told reporters Monday the team has enough confidence in Love to consider him worthy of No. 1 status.

However, there's still the small matter of Aaron Rodgers being under contract for 2023 and set to count for $31.6 million against the salary cap.

Gutekunst indicated he'd like to see the four-time MVP come back:

"Well, certainly that's an offseason-type kind of decision, but surely, yeah. I mean we want all our guys back. We made a big commitment to him this offseason, so that was obviously something that was really important to us. But like we've talked about in the past, this is something we'll sit down with him after the season and it will be something we do together and move forward that way."

Love didn't look great in his only career start to date. He finished 19-of-34 for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Packers lost 13-7 to the Kansas City Chiefs last season.

The 2020 first-round pick has performed better when filling in for Rodgers this year, particularly in a 40-33 Week 12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was 6-of-9 for 113 yards and one touchdown.

Green Bay is 5-8 so far, and its postseason hopes dwindle by the week. One silver lining is that the team might be able to give Love an extended look over the final few weeks because there's little else to play for.

Should that happen and he finishes the campaign strong, the Packers could choose one of two paths. They could pencil Love in as their 2023 starter if Rodgers is willing to be traded or retires altogether. They could also trade him, presumably getting a healthy return while failing to recoup a first-round pick.

Granted, that doesn't mean things won't get messy since the Packers are well aware of how difficult it can be to pass the torch from a franchise legend to the starter-in-waiting.

Amid a disappointing 2022 season for the Green Bay Packers, many are wondering about Aaron Rodgers' future with the team. On Monday, head coach Matt LaFleur made his stance on the situation clear.

When asked if he wants Rodgers to be Green Bay's starting quarterback in 2023, LaFleur told reporters, "Yeah, absolutely. Of course."

Rodgers had said after Sunday's 28-19 road win over the Chicago Bears that his return to the Packers in 2023 would depend on whether there was mutual interest on both sides. The back-to-back reigning NFL MVP turned 39 on Friday and is likely at the tail end of his legendary career.

In March, Green Bay signed Rodgers to a three-year contract extension worth $150.8 million, which keeps him tied to the team through the 2024 season. The 10-time Pro Bowler has thrown for 2,864 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions through 13 games this year. He threw nine picks combined in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Sunday's victory improved Green Bay to 5-8, but the team sits in third place in the NFC North. While the Packers are not yet eliminated from playoff contention, their chances are slim, and it would take some help to reach the postseason.

Many have wondered if Green Bay should give third-year quarterback Jordan Love an opportunity to start some games down the stretch. The 24-year-old has had limited playing time while backing up Rodgers, but he impressed in a Week 12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles when he replaced Rodgers in the second half and went 6-of-9 passing for 113 yards and a touchdown.

The Packers are on a bye in Week 14, but it sounds like Rodgers will continue to be under center when the team returns to action against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 19 and beyond.

Fantasy football players received positive news in the last 24 hours regarding two of the NFL's most notable stars.

Aaron Rodgers has been practicing for the Green Bay Packers despite not finishing Week 12's Sunday night clash with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rodgers may not be at 100 percent, but he is on track to play against his favorite opponent, the Chicago Bears, in Week 13.

Christian McCaffrey is in good shape to appear Sunday in the San Francisco 49ers' battle with the Miami Dolphins. The running back told reporters he felt fine Thursday after he missed practice Wednesday.

Other notable setbacks across the NFL are not as positive. Below is a look at the full list of injuries that could affect your fantasy football matchups in Week 13.

• Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB: practiced Friday (rib/thumb)
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, SF: "feels fine", full participant in practice (knee)
• Justin Fields, QB, CHI: full participant in practice/no injury designation, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
• Treylon Burks, WR, TEN: back at practice Friday, per ESPN's Turron Davenport.
• David Njoku, TE, CLE: out (knee), per NFL.com.
• Najee Harris, RB, PIT: expects to play Sunday (oblique), per NFL.com.
• Jerry Jeudy, WR, DEN: practiced Friday (ankle), per NFL.com.
• Michael Carter, RB, NYJ: doubtful (ankle), per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
• Travis Etienne, RB, JAX: questionable (foot), per NFL.com.
• Matthew Stafford, QB, LAR: out (cleared concussion protocol), per Schefter.
• Mike Williams, WR, LAC: not practicing Friday (ankle), per The Athletic's Daniel Popper.
• Josh Jacobs, RB, LV: practicing Friday (calf), per ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.
• Joe Mixon, RB, CIN: still in concussion protocol, per ESPN's Ben Baby.
• Leonard Fournette, RB, TB: full participant in practice (hip), per NFL.com.
• Jameson Williams, WR, DET: no decision made on status (knee), per ESPN's Eric Woodyard.
• Ja'Marr Chase, WR, CIN: questionable (hip), per NFL.com.
• Antonio Gibson, RB, WSH: questionable (foot), per ESPN's John Keim.

Aaron Rodgers Practices Again Friday

Rodgers was present at Green Bay Packers practice Friday, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur liked what he saw out of Rodgers in Thursday's practice, which is a promising sign for the quarterback's effort to play against the Bears.

Fantasy football players with Rodgers on their roster hope he will be in action Sunday.

Rodgers typically feasts on the Bears defense. He had 234 passing yards and two touchdown passes against them in Week 2. He averages 242.3 yards per game versus his NFC North rival and is 23-5 against the Bears with 63 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Green Bay's offense is in a better place than it was in Week 2 for the first divisional clash with Chicago. Christian Watson has emerged as a go-to guy and a red-zone threat and AJ Dillon has worked into a rhythm in the backfield alongside Aaron Jones.

Rodgers may have an extra offensive weapon to work with Sunday, as Romeo Doubs has been practicing with the team this week. Doubs has not played since Week 9 because of an ankle injury.

McCaffrey Will Play Despite Injury Scare

McCaffrey is expected to be on the field Sunday for the 49ers' clash with the Dolphins.

He missed practice Wednesday, but he returned Thursday and told reporters he "feels great," per NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco.

McCaffrey's absence Wednesday gave a scare to fantasy football players because he was not expected to be on the injury report.

The running back's comments Thursday reassured fantasy players he will be available for one of the few massive showdowns Sunday.

McCaffrey could be relied on more against the Dolphins because Elijah Mitchell (knee) is once again out injured. McCaffrey has not had more than 40 rushing yards in each of his last three games. He had 123 receiving yards in that stretch.

San Francisco's featured back could be in for a larger workload Sunday because of the circumstances facing the 49ers offense.

An NFL executive believes the Green Bay Packers may not have been aware of wide receiver Davante Adams' true impact before trading him to the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, an anonymous NFL personnel executive said the Packers "perhaps didn't realize what their identity was," which was for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to throw the ball up to Adams when a play was needed on offense.

The exec noted that the decision to trade Adams "did not work," and that Green Bay should have kept its No. 1 wideout for Rodgers' "peace of mind."

Rodgers and the Green Bay offense have been shells of their former selves this season, which is why the Packers have been arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL with a 4-8 record.

While Rodgers was NFL MVP in both 2020 and 2021, the 18-year veteran has largely looked average this season, completing 64.8 percent of his passes for 2,682 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Much of that seemingly has to do with a lack of established weapons. Without Adams in the fold, Rodgers has had to lean on Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins and rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs at receiver, although most of them have missed significant time due to injury.

That, in turn, has caused Rodgers to hold the ball longer than usual, and it has resulted in him getting sacked 24 times in 12 games.

Adams isn't enjoying much team success either this season, playing for the 4-7 Raiders, but he has continued to be a stud individually with Derek Carr throwing him the ball.

Through 11 games, Adams has made 71 grabs for 999 yards and 10 touchdowns, putting him in the mix to possibly be a first-team All-Pro for the third year in a row.

Adams has finished with double-digit touchdowns three years in a row and six of the past seven seasons, plus he had well over 100 catches in both 2020 and 2021, and a career-high 1,553 yards last season.

It is now blatantly obvious that Adams was the one who made the Green Bay offense go, and it is no coincidence that the Packers now look like a cellar-dwelling team after three straight 13-win seasons from 2019 to 2021.

Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers wants to finish the season, but he told reporters Wednesday he would understand if the team wants to give Jordan Love more playing time.

"Hopefully we don't have to have that conversation, but if that conversation comes up, I'll approach it with an open mind without any bitterness or resentment," Rodgers said.

The Packers fell to 4-8 with Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and are three games behind the Washington Commanders for the final playoff spot. Rodgers is also dealing with rib and thumb injuries that prevented him from practicing on Wednesday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Even with the injuries, Rodgers told The Pat McAfee Show that he plans to play this week against the Chicago Bears:

On the other hand, the injury and the poor record could be an opportunity for the Packers to see more from Love, the 2020 first-round pick who has made just one start in three seasons.

Love has played in three games this season and impressed late in Sunday's loss to the Eagles, totaling 113 yards and a touchdown on 6-of-9 passing.

The 24-year-old has one more year remaining of his rookie contract, but the Packers will need to make a decision in the offseason whether to pick up his fifth-year option. Otherwise, he can leave in free agency after the 2023 season.

Rodgers signed a three-year, $150.8 million extension last year after winning his second straight MVP award, although he has struggled more this season. The 38-year-old has just 21 passing touchdowns with nine interceptions after throwing 37 touchdown passes with just four picks a year ago. His 92.9 passer rating is the second-worst of his 15 years as a starter.

If the veteran can't turn things around against the Bears, the Week 14 bye could offer an opportunity for the Packers to make a switch at quarterback.