Aaron Rodgers Injury: Updates on Packers Star's Calf and Recovery

Scott PolacekDec 11, 2016

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he suffered a calf injury, potentially due to the fact he was compensating for a hamstring injury, early in his team's 38-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14, per Pro Football Talk. However, he is ready to play.

Continue for updates.

Rodgers Active vs. Bears

Sunday, Dec. 18

The Packers announced Rodgers will start against the Chicago Bears in Week 15.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported prior to kickoff that Rodgers will be "watched closely."

Latest on Rodgers' Practice Status

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Rodgers did not practice on Dec. 14 and "probably" won't practice Dec. 15.

Latest on Severity of Rodgers' Injury

Monday, Dec. 12

Rapoport reported that "preliminary findings" have revealed Rodgers' calf injury "doesn't seem as bad" as the one the quarterback suffered two seasons ago.

Rodgers Seen Limping to Locker Room

Sunday, Dec. 11

Rodgers was taken out for Brett Hundley with the game well in hand. According to Packer Report, the decision to put in Hundley was made by head coach Mike McCarthy and not necessitated by the calf setback. After the game, McCarthy said Rodgers was hurt on the third play of the game, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

Lance Allan of NBC Milwaukee shared video of the quarterback gingerly leaving the field after the win:

Rodgers finished 18-of-23 for 246 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Rodgers Essential to Everything Packers Do Offensively

Rodgers already dealt with hamstring concerns earlier in December, but he proved durable in 2014 and 2015, playing all 16 games each season. However, he appeared in just nine in 2013, and the Packers went a concerning 2-4-1 in the seven games he missed.

There is no single player more critical to Green Bay's Super Bowl hopes than Rodgers. He surpassed 3,000 passing yards this year, which marked the eighth time in the last nine seasons he did so, with the injury-marred 2013 as the only exception.

If the two-time MVP, five-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion is forced to miss time in the future, the Packers will likely turn to Hundley. He was a fifth-round pick in 2015 and has little NFL experience behind the steady Rodgers, but he threw for more than 3,000 yards in each of his three seasons at UCLA and scored 31 touchdowns on the ground as a rushing threat.