Sounds like Aaron Rodgers has made the decision that should be in the hands of others.
“I got good news with the scans yesterday,” the Green Bay Packers quarterback told The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday. “So I plan on playing this week.”
Last Wednesday Rodgers told the world he’s been playing with a broken right thumb the past six weeks.
Might it be part of the reason the Packers have lost seven of their last eight?
On Sunday, he left a showdown with the NFL-leading Eagles with a rib injury. (Apparently, that was the scan that brought Rodgers his good news).
Before his departure in the third quarter, Rodgers had completed 11-of-16 passes for 140 yards, adding two TD tosses and two interceptions.
He was replaced by former first-round pick Jordan Love, the heir apparent to Rodgers who looks very much like he’s ready for prime-time.
Love completed 6-of-9 for 113 yards and a touchdown.
So why wouldn’t the Packers have the 38-year-old Rodgers rest his thumb a little longer?
He has thrown five picks in his last four games, which is one more than he coughed up in the previous eight.
And at 4-8, Green Bay’s season is essentially a write off.
At sportsbettingdime.com, the Packers are +320 to make the playoffs and -400 to. miss, which means if you win a wager on the former, $1 will get you $3.20, while you’d have to bet $4 to win $1 on the latter.
It’s not like the Packers need Rodgers to beat the Bears, who have lost five in a row, eight of nine and, at 3-9 with a slew of injuries of their own, are the only team worse that the Packers in the NFC North.
This Sunday, with the Packers going into Soldier Field as a 3-point favourite against their oldest rival, Rodgers will have a good chance to strengthening his “ownership” of the Bears, against whom he has a career record of 23-5.
But wouldn’t it be better for the Packers organization – and Rodgers thumb specifically – for Love to get his second start in this, his second season?
Or are they just worried about upsetting their aging, very expensive living legend?
-Don Brennan
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