Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he expects to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears after receiving "good news" on his injured ribs.

“I got good news with the scans yesterday, so I plan on playing this week," Rodgers said Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show.

Rodgers has been dealing with injuries for much of the 2022 season. He came into the weekend with an avulsion fracture to his right thumb and left Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with a rib injury.

"It was in the first half and then got kind of reaggravated in the third quarter, just having a hard time breathing and rotating my upper body, I was worried about a punctured lung as well. So I wanted to get that checked out. I'll get a scan tomorrow," Rodgers told reporters after the game.

The reigning back-to-back MVP indicated Sunday he wanted to play through his injuries even though the Packers are 4-8 and on the verge of elimination from playoff contention.

"We have a five-game stretch, we need to win all five and probably need a little help," he said. "As long as we're mathematically alive, I'd like to be out there."

Rodgers has been a diminished version of himself during the 2022 season, throwing for 2,682 yards and 21 touchdowns against nine interceptions. The nine picks tie his combined total from the past two seasons and are his highest single-season mark since 2010.

While some of the issues can be attributed to injury, Rodgers clearly misses wide receiver Davante Adams, who Green Bay traded to Las Vegas in the offseason. The Packers have not found a reliable top wideout to replace Adams, and Rodgers has expressed frustration with the slow growth of the wide receiver room.

Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was forced to exit Sunday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles early after sustaining an injury to his ribs, but head coach Matt LaFleur offered an optimistic prognosis on Monday.

LaFleur told reporters that Rodgers is "feeling better," but he added that they will continue to learn more over the next few days. LaFleur declared that if Rodgers is healthy, he will play Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Rodgers entered the locker room in the third quarter against the Eagles as the Packers went on to suffer a 40-33 loss and fall to 4-8 this season. According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, there was "an initial fear" that Rodgers had suffered a punctured lung. He underwent X-rays at the stadium that showed he didn't have a punctured lung, but it was "hard to tell" if he had any fractured ribs.

After the game, Rodgers dismissed the notion of shutting it down for the remainder of the season. Green Bay has a slim chance of making the playoffs, but the two-time reigning MVP said he intends to play as long as the team is mathematically alive.

"We've got to win all five and probably need a little bit of help," said Rodgers, who also revealed last week that he's been playing with a broken bone in his thumb since Week 5.

Rodgers was replaced by Jordan Love against Philadelphia, and the third-year quarterback opened some eyes with a solid performance. Love finished with 113 yards and a touchdown on six-of-nine passing and helped Green Bay turn what could have been a blowout into a close game down the stretch.

Some are wondering if the Packers will give the 24-year-old more playing time if they are eliminated from playoff contention later this season. For now, it sounds like Rodgers intends to be under center as long as his body allows him.

Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers told reporters he's expecting to play in next weekend's game after exiting Sunday's 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with a rib injury.

Rodgers left the game in the third quarter. NFL Network's James Palmer reported Rodgers underwent X-rays at Lincoln Financial Field, and the Green Bay star did not return to the game.

Jordan Love replaced Rodgers, going 6-of-9 for 113 yards and one touchdown in the fourth quarter.

This is just the latest injury setback for Rodgers. He confirmed earlier this month he was playing through a broken right thumb, which occurred in Green Bay's 27-22 loss to the New York Giants in Week 5.

The four-time MVP downplayed how much the thumb injury was affecting him on the field. Meanwhile, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters he hadn't given any thought to resting Rodgers to allow his thumb to heal a bit.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Nov. 27 that the injury "is more severe than known" and "serious enough that surgery is almost always the answer."

This has been a season to forget for the Packers and Rodgers so far.

At 4-7, the team is on pace to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018, and its starting signal-caller is having one of the worst years of his career. Through 11 games, Rodgers has thrown for 2,542 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had 140 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions prior to exiting against Philadelphia.

As much as the 38-year-old has struggled, the alternative might not be any better.

In his only NFL start, Love went 19-of-34 for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The offense mustered only seven points in a 2021 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Granted, given how things have gone for the Packers this season, it might not matter whether Rodgers or Love is lining up under center. A losing record looks more and more likely by the week.

Green Bay fell to 4-8 with Sunday's loss to Philadelphia.

Aaron Rodgers was willing to shoulder some of the blame for the Green Bay Packers' 27-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Rodgers explained he wasn't able to get the same grip on the football as he normally does.

"I've got to throw the ball better than I did tonight," he said.

One of the notable throws Rodgers missed came early in the fourth quarter with the Packers down by 10. He had Sammy Watkins wide open down the middle of the field on 3rd-and-12, but his throw sailed high and forced the Packers to punt.

After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Packers offense again had a chance to cut into the deficit. Rodgers sailed a pass over Allen Lazard's head on 3rd-and-3. He tried to hit Lazard on a deep shot on fourth down, but it was incomplete for a turnover on downs with 5:21 left to play.

Rodgers finished the game 24-of-39 for 227 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was only sacked once, but it was a 12-yard loss on 2nd-and-7 on their final possession with just over three minutes remaining.

There was hope that the Packers were building positive momentum after their comeback overtime victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10.

Green Bay's running game did most of the work for the offense in that game with 207 yards on 39 carries.

Rodgers was efficient in the win over Dallas, going 14-of-20 for 224 yards and three touchdowns. His 20 pass attempts were his fewest in a game that he finished since Week 4 of the 2010 season.

Thursday's game looked like a lot of this season has for the Packers. They had just 271 yards of total offense and 15 first downs. After Christian Watson's touchdown and a two-point conversion cut the deficit to 20-17 late in the third quarter, their final four drives ended in two punts and two turnovers on downs.

The loss dropped the Packers' record to 4-7, six games behind the Minnesota Vikings in the loss column in the NFC North. They are three games back of the San Francisco 49ers in the loss column for the final wild-card spot in the NFC.

The Green Bay Packers' disappointing season is on the brink of complete disaster after a disappointing 27-17 home loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.

Neither side of the ball got it done.

The defense struggled for the vast majority of the game and allowed quarterback Ryan Tannehill to throw for a season-high 333 yards. Tennessee outgained Green Bay 408-271 thanks to Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry (136 total yards, one rushing touchdown, one passing score) and rookie wide receiver Treylon Burks (career-highs of seven receptions for 111 yards).

The Packers showed some signs of offensive life thanks to the connection between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wideout Christian Watson (two touchdowns Thursday and five over the last two games) but ultimately ended the matchup with four scoreless drives on a pair each of punts and turnover on downs.

It was a resoundingly disappointing effort for the Packers after they upset the visiting Dallas Cowboys 31-28 in overtime the week before. Granted, the 7-3 Titans look geared for the playoffs and another AFC South title, but Green Bay was running uphill all game after Tennessee scored a touchdown on the opening drive and never looked back.

There's a lot of blame to go around, but Twitter ultimately noted the defense's struggles and coaching concerns—notably defensive coordinator Joe Barry—as well as Rodgers' missed throws (albeit with an injured thumb) down the stretch.

Time isn't the Packers' friend, as the 4-7 Packers fell three back in the loss column of the 5-4 San Francisco 49ers, who currently hold the NFC's third and final wild-card spot.

Plus, the Packers have lost six of their last seven games and will now go on the road to visit the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles for Sunday Night Football on Nov. 27.

There isn't much reason for optimism right now, and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic summed it up.

Green Bay will stay on the road after the Eagles game with a matchup against the rival Chicago Bears on Dec. 4.

The Los Angeles Lakers didn't play Thursday night, but they may have still been on LeBron James' mind even when he was analyzing the Green Bay Packers as part of Amazon Prime Video's alternate broadcast of Thursday Night Football.

"If you have a transcendent franchise player like Aaron Rodgers," he said (h/t Sports Illustrated). "... Why wouldn't you surround that, when you got the picks, to maximize what he can do?"

Notably, co-host Paul Rivera asked, "Are we still talking football or are we talking basketball?" which led to some laughter on set.

James, Rivera and Maverick Carter hosted the alternate broadcast of the game between the Packers and Tennessee Titans that emulated an episode of The Shop. It included guest appearances from Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, and actors Rob Lowe and Jamie Foxx.

As far as the Packers go, they have been consistently criticized and questioned for not drafting enough offensive playmakers around Rodgers, especially in the latter portion of his career. They also traded No. 1 wide receiver Davante Adams this offseason.

While Rodgers is widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in league history, the Packers have been to the Super Bowl just one time in his career. That came back in the 2010 campaign, and they have consistently fallen short in the NFC playoffs of late.

But it's difficult not to read between the lines whenever James says something.

Despite plenty of speculation this offseason, his Lakers did not drastically change the roster even after missing the playoffs and play-in tournament in 2021-22. Russell Westbrook is still there, and the Purple and Gold look nothing like playoff contenders.

Perhaps a trade is needed, but Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported earlier this month that the front office is "moving in a direction where they're going to resist moving first-round picks if the season continues to go down this path."

That would mean holding on to first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, which will be used in all likelihood after the 37-year-old James is past his prime or perhaps even retired.

Such a direction may be in the best interest of the franchise, but James surely wants to win now.

The 3-10 Lakers don't look like they'll be doing much of that this season.

Add Aaron Rodgers to the growing list of players publicly advocating for the NFL to do away with turf fields in favor of grass.

"As much as I've enjoyed playing indoors over the years on turf, I do think it's time to play on grass," he told reporters Tuesday. "I think you'd see less of these non-contact injuries."

Rodgers doesn't believe the NFL will ban turf, however.

"This would be putting money where your mouth is if the league is really interested in player safety," he told reporters.

A number of NFL players tweeted publicly about the safety concerns of turf last week:

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll also spoke on the issue during a late-October press conference.

"I think we definitely need to look at this really seriously in the offseason again," he told reporters. "It's been a discussion before. We've got to do what's right, and we've got to do what's safest for the players, and we've got to make those choices. I would pound on the drum for that."

The NFL has countered by pointing to studies showing that the difference in non-contact injuries between grass and turf fields are negligible.

NFL executive vice president of communications Jeff Miller released the following statement last week:

As the NFLPA knows from the meeting of our Joint Field Surface Safety & Performance Committee earlier this month, there was no difference between the number of injuries on synthetic surfaces versus grass. While slit-film surfaces, one type of synthetic material, have 2-3 more injuries per year, most of them are ankle sprains—a low-burden injury—whereas slit film also sees a lower rate of fewer high-burden ACL injuries compared to other synthetic fields. As a result, the league and NFLPA's joint experts did not recommend any changes to surfaces at the meeting but agreed more study is needed.

As Kevin Seifert of ESPN noted, the rate of injuries on artificial surfaces were "notably higher" than on natural grass in the years leading up to 2019. In recent seasons, however, the difference has become almost indistinguishable as teams that utilize turf replace it more frequently and have improved their care and management of the surface.

Nonetheless, it is abundantly clear that players favor playing on natural grass.

"The turf is literally like concrete it has no give when you plant," Packers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell tweeted in part on Nov. 7.

Los Angeles Rams wideout Cooper Kupp previously added that the difference between the two surfaces was "not even close."

Aaron Rodgers was visibly frustrated with head coach Matt LaFleur after a conservative late-game approach led to overtime, albeit in a 31-28 win for the Green Bay Packers over the Dallas Cowboys.

After Sunday's game, Rodgers went into more detail about his reaction while speaking with reporters.

"Just every single play call, probably," he said of his frustrations. "I felt like we were like 30 yards from ending the game in regulation, and also felt like it was two minutes, so I was going to be calling those, and I was in a pretty good rhythm. Obviously, I didn't have a ton of attempts, but felt like I was in a pretty good rhythm. I felt like I threw the ball just about exactly where I wanted to, so I wanted a chance to go win the game."

The sequence in question started with 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, with the Packers taking over at their own 33-yard line after a Cowboys punt. LaFleur dialed up two straight runs—which ran the clock down to 30 seconds—before going with a pass on 3rd-and-1, which fell incomplete.

The Packers then punted it back to the Cowboys, who weren't able to move down the field to kick a game-winning field goal, and the Packers ultimately won in overtime.

It was a huge result, ending a five-game losing streak for Green Bay. But it was a game that perhaps wouldn't have needed overtime in the first place with a more aggressive approach late in regulation.

LaFleur admitted some "indecision" on his part regarding the final sequence, noting the Cowboys had three timeouts remaining and he worried about the possibility of giving them the ball with too much time remaining if Rodgers threw a couple of incompletions and the Packers had to punt.

"It didn't work out, at least in that moment, but it did work out obviously for us to be able to come out on top," he told reporters. "A lot of times when we get in those situations, we give Aaron a ton of freedom to kind of run the show. I'd say typically, he does such a great job with it. So, hindsight is 20/20, but that was on me, totally."

A loss would have overshadowed the huge game from rookie wideout Christian Watson, who caught four passes for 107 yards and three scores. There have been major question marks about Rodgers' weapons this season—or lack thereof—but the emergence of Watson could be enormous for a Packers team now fighting to return to the playoff picture.

"We've seen what we can be, and we've seen it was only us getting in our own way," Watson told reporters after the game. "All we had to do was believe."