NFC North

Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers attempted to put a positive spin on a 23-21 loss to the Washington Commanders that dropped the team to 3-4 in the 2022 NFL season.

"I’m not worried about this squad," he told reporters after the game. "In fact, this might be the best thing for us."

Rodgers' optimism may not be widely shared by fans.

The Packers haven't had a losing season since 2018 and earned 13 wins in each of the next three years. This isn't a position the team has found itself in recently.

Rodgers' belief might stem from what unfolded after a defeat to Washington put Green Bay at 4-6 in 2016. The team reeled off six straight wins to end the regular season and reached the NFC title game.

The big issue for the Packers this time year, though, is that it's difficult to see what will spark that kind of turnaround.

That squad could count on an elite offense to compensate for a pedestrian defense. Rodgers had Comeback Player of the Year winner Jordy Nelson, an emergent Davante Adams and Randall Cobb at his disposal.

Fast forward to 2022 and Rodgers is on pace to average his fewest passing yards since becoming Green Bay's starting quarterback. After Sunday, he's putting up 228.1 yards per contest through the air.

Perhaps that's partially because of his age (38), but his supporting cast isn't doing him any favors. One narrative throughout Rodgers' career is that Green Bay has failed to fully capitalize on his greatness, and that's never been more true than when the front office built an offense with Cobb, Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs as its best receivers.

The Packers did little to replace Adams in the offseason after trading him to the Las Vegas Raiders, so the present situation should come as little surprise.

Rodgers might be outwardly assured, but one wonders how he's truly feeling with how things are playing out in Green Bay.

The Green Bay Packers suffered their third loss in a row with a 23-21 defeat to the Washington Commanders.

Aaron Rodgers struggled once again, finishing 23-of-35 for 194 passing yards. Though he had two passing touchdowns, the offense was highly inconsistent with just one score until the final few minutes of the fourth quarter.

The defense had scored the other touchdown, keeping the Packers competitive despite the quarterback's up-and-down play.

There were plenty of question marks about Rodgers throughout the game:

With a turnover and five punts, it wasn't the best day for the offense.

Rodgers hasn't had much trust with his inexperienced receivers this year, and he showed his emotion after a drop by Romeo Doubs.

Of Rodgers' 23 completions, 15 went to trusted options Aaron Jones and Allen Lazard.

With Tom Brady also struggling in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, many fans were mocking the two veteran QBs.

The Packers fell to 3-4 with the latest loss, and the schedule only gets tougher with a road game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8.

If Rodgers and the offense doesn't turn things around, this could end up being a long season in Green Bay.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been ruled out of Sunday's game with a concussion, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The wideout had one catch for four yards against the Dallas Cowboys, but he took a hard hit at the end of the play and was taken out of the game for evaluation.

St. Brown missed time earlier this season—a Week 4 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks—because of an ankle injury suffered in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings.

The 2021 fourth-round pick had put together a solid season before suffering the ailment, catching 23 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns through the first three weeks. He now has just five catches for 22 yards in the two games since.

This is St. Brown's second season in the NFL, and he didn't miss any time as a rookie in 2021, appearing in all 17 games for the Lions and making nine starts. He caught 90 passes for 912 yards and five touchdowns last season.

When St. Brown is sidelined, the Lions and quarterback Jared Goff can rely on D.J. Chark, Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond. Tight end T.J. Hockenson will also remain a big part of the offense.

The Lions entered Week 7 with a 1-4 record and in last place in the NFC North.

Amid a rough 2-4 start to the season, the Chicago Bears could be sellers ahead of the NFL's trade deadline on Nov. 1.

Per Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, the Bears are shopping defensive end Robert Quinn around the league.

"They want to move him, but they are going to have to eat some of that contract to do it," one general manager told La Canfora.

The 32-year-old Quinn has a $12.8 million base salary in 2022 and is owed $26.8 million in base salary in 2023 and 2024 combined. Quinn's dead cap is only $8.5 million in 2023 and $4.2 million in 2024, so it wouldn't be too costly to release him after this season.

Another potential issue for the Bears as they explore trade options is Quinn's production. He has just two quarterback hits, one sack and has played more than 75 percent of the defensive snaps in Chicago's six games this season just once.

The Bears should consider shopping all of their veteran players with big contracts.

Quinn, Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair are the only players on Chicago's roster making at least $10 million in average annual salary. They are all signed through the 2024 season. Jackson is the youngest member of that trio at 28 years old.

Despite trading up in the first round last year to select Justin Fields with the No. 11 overall pick, there has been no indication that things are going to turn around any time soon.

First-year head coach Matt Eberflus does have the defense playing fairly well. It ranks 11th in the NFL in points allowed per game (19.7), but the offense hasn't scored more than 23 points in a game this season and the team ranks 31st in points per game (15.5).

Fields ranks last among all quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts in completion percentage (54.8) and is tied with Carson Wentz for most sacks taken (23).

With no indication of a long-term plan in place at the moment, trying to move a player like Quinn and recoup a potential future asset is a smart play for the Bears.

Quinn did finish second in the NFL with 18.5 sacks in 2021. A team in need of help at edge-rusher could give him a fresh start if a trade can be worked out within the next two weeks.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb suffered a potential high-ankle sprain in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the New York Jets, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Cobb is slated to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

Cobb was carted off early in the third quarter of Sunday's game and did not return. There was serious concern about the injury as the veteran receiver appeared to get emotional while exiting the field.

Cobb entered Sunday's game having caught 17 passes for 249 yards through the first five games of the season. He caught one pass for eight yards against the Jets.

It's unclear how long Cobb might be sidelined with the ankle injury, but it's certainly a tough blow for Green Bay's receiving group, especially after Aaron Rodgers called for the former Pro Bowler to get more playing time earlier this month.

Rodgers said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t SB Nation):

"I really feel like he needs some more playing time. He’s made plays in every game that he’s played.

"... I think he needs more opportunities for sure. He’s earned them. Big kudos to him, though, you know. He figured out how to get his body back. He’s stayed healthy so far, but he went through the entire offseason program, OTAs, busted his ass and earned the opportunity he’s gotten and probably more, so I look forward to some more snaps for him ‘cause every time he’s out there he’s making explosive gains."

Cobb has spent 10 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Packers. He began his career with the franchise in 2011 before leaving for the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent in 2019. He then joined the Houston Texans in 2020, signing a three-year deal, before being traded back to Green Bay ahead of the 2021 season.

Cobb's best season in Green Bay came in 2014 when he caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns in 16 games en route to a Pro Bowl selection.

Allen Lazard, Romeo Doubs, Amari Rodgers and Samori Toure figure to be Green Bay's leading receivers if Cobb is sidelined. Rookie Christian Watson is dealing with a hamstring injury, and it's unclear when he might return.

The Packers are 3-3 on the season and will face the Washington Commanders next weekend.

The Green Bay Packers look like anything but Super Bowl contenders through six games this season, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not want to blame a thumb injury for Sunday's poor performance in a 27-10 loss to the New York Jets.

"It's a little sore," he told reporters while revealing it only impacted his accuracy on "maybe a couple, but not too many."

Rodgers went 26-of-41 for 246 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions while the offense managed just a single touchdown against the Jets.

It was Green Bay's second consecutive loss, and offense in the second half has been a major problem all season. The team managed just two points after intermission against the New York Giants, three points against the Chicago Bears and seven points against the Minnesota Vikings.

It went scoreless after halftime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but still managed a win thanks to a strong performance from its defense.

"Simpler. Simpler. Simplify some things," Rodgers told reporters when asked how the offense should respond after dropping to 3-3.

"I just think that based on how we played last few weeks, I think it's going to be in our best interest for everybody, our line, backs, receivers," he added. "... Simplify some things and maybe they'll help us get back on track."

Fair or not, anything less than a Super Bowl title will be seen as a failure of a season for Rodgers and the Packers.

After all, he is widely considered one of the most talented quarterbacks in NFL history but has as many Super Bowl appearances in his career (one) as Rex Grossman. The Packers have lost in the NFC playoffs nine times since lifting the Lombardi Trophy to end the 2010 campaign.

The fact that Rodgers turns 39 years old in December only amplifies the urgency this season.

Next up for the Packers is a three-game road trip against the Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions before a difficult closing stretch that includes games against the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Vikings.

The offense on display Sunday will not be good enough to accomplish the team's goals.

Aaron Rodgers is under fire after the Green Bay Packers suffered a 27-10 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.

The quarterback finished with 246 passing yards and a touchdown in the Week 6 game, but he also lost a fumble and failed to sustain long drives in the disappointing effort.

After what was initially a low-scoring battle, tied 3-3 at halftime, the Packers couldn't keep up with the Jets in the second half.

Rodgers was widely criticized by fans on social media throughout the game for his inconsistent play:

The quarterback did have some quality plays during the game, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard.

Rodgers also entered with a thumb injury, which he suffered during last week's game against the New York Giants. The offensive struggles were still enough for some to call for backup Jordan Love to see the field.

Love eventually came into the game down 17 points in the final minutes, and the crowd showed its approval.

Even though Rodgers won MVP in each of the last two years, fans can turn quickly after back-to-back losses to the Giants and Jets.

The Packers are now 3-3 on the season, with the offense seemingly looking worse each week. Green Bay will look to get back on track against the struggling Washington Commanders in Week 7.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields expressed frustration about the team's inability to take the next step following Thursday night's 12-7 loss to the Washington Commanders.

"We always get told that 'we're almost there, we're almost there,'" Fields told reporters. "Me, personally, I'm tired of being almost there. I'm tired of being just this close. I feel like I've been hearing it for so long now. At the end of the day, all you can do is get back to work. That's the only reaction you have. You live and you learn. Just get back next week and keep going, keep getting better."

The Bears came up just short Thursday as their eight-play, 61-yard final drive stalled out at the Commanders' 4-yard line. The third straight one-score loss dropped their record to 2-4.

Fields' development is a point of contention as the Bears attempt to determine the best path forward amid another season that's slipping away.

The 2021 first-round pick's stats across his first 18 NFL appearances are underwhelming: 57.7 percent completion rate for 2,739 yards with 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He's added 702 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.

On Thursday, he missed several throws that must be completed if Chicago's offense is going to reach another level, including a wide-open touchdown pass to tight end Ryan Griffin in the second quarter. The Bears failed to score on the drive.

"When the play is there, make it," Fields said. "Plain and simple. There is no logistics. It's not complicated. It's when you have that opportunity, finish. It's that simple. We just didn't do that tonight. You don't have to make it harder than it is, pitch and catch."

Fields ranks 27th in ESPN's Total QBR (34.9) and has received a poor 57.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus so far this season.

The defense of the 23-year-old Ohio State product begins with the lack of pass-catching talent around him, including the absence of a true No. 1 wide receiver. Darnell Mooney, Dante Pettis and Equanimeous St. Brown are the team's most targeted wideouts.

If you look at quarterbacks who've made a leap in recent years, it's often linked to the front office bringing in a top target, whether it's the Buffalo Bills acquiring Stefon Diggs for Josh Allen or the Miami Dolphins adding Tyreek Hill for Tua Tagovailoa.

Without a blockbuster trade ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline, that type of move will have to wait until the offseason, so Fields needs to work with the existing group for now.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said the staff will use the next 10 days off to see what type of adjustments, including possible offensive line changes, can be made to jump-start the unit.

"We're going to reassess everything," Eberflus said. "Everything from scheme to players to everything. We're going to do a good job of that here coming up. And we're going to do a good job of really getting it to the players. If it might be a lineup change or might be technique, fundamentals, all that, scheme, how we're running certain plays, who we're getting the ball to, what we're doing well, what we need to improve on."

Fields and Co. return to action Oct. 24 for a Week 7 road trip to face the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football.

A pair of controversial roughing-the-passer calls served as one of the main storylines for the NFL's Week 5 action, and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked about them during his weekly Pat McAfee Show appearance.

On Sunday, Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was called for roughing the passer on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. Referee Jerome Boger explained his decision postgame to The Athletic's Greg Auman.

On Monday, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was called for the same against Las Vegas Raiders signal-caller Derek Carr. Jones was called for the penalty after referee Carl Cheffers deemed he used his full body weight when tackling the quarterback. ESPN's Adam Teicher provided the quotes.

The Bucs would have punted with under three minutes remaining up 21-15, but they were able to maintain possession and hang on for the win. The Jones penalty didn't end up costing the Chiefs, who beat Las Vegas 30-29.

Rodgers got more in depth on his opinion regarding the Jones penalty and also roughing-the-passer in general at the 2:15 mark:

"Again, I'm making a generalization here and just speaking for myself, though, but I personally am not begging for those calls, that call last night. I don't know what else Chris Jones can do on that play. And that would not be a call I'd be begging to hit.

"The things I think are most important is the shots to the head. That's the most important thing. It's the shots to the head and the unnecessary roughness ones, where a guy doesn't have to pick you up and throw you down, or the two- or three-step shots."

Carr himself didn't agree with the penalty, per Jones' postgame comments.

The three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle also provided his two cents on the matter and advocated for a second look on such penalties:

He also noted that the penalty occurred at a "critical situation" in the game and that it was a "momentum shift in a game that could have affected us."

The Chiefs would have gotten the ball at the Raiders' 42-yard line down 17-7 with just over a minute left in the first half. Instead, the Raiders kept the ball and kicked a field goal for a 20-7 edge.

It ultimately didn't matter, but the chatter regarding roughing the passer has turned into a big talking point this year.