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Report: Rodgers unlikely to play Sunday

Published Dec. 16, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is unlikely to play Sunday night at New England due to his second concussion of the season, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Thursday.

Matt Flynn, who played the second half of Sunday's 7-3 loss at Detroit, is in line to make his first NFL start.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday that Rodgers would not practice, adding that his chances of practicing Friday are "slim to none."

Veteran wide receiver Donald Driver helped talk his teammate into sitting out the rest of Sunday's game.

''I was very concerned about him,'' Driver said. ''I kind of whispered in his ear, walked behind him during the time he was sitting on the bench and kind of told him, 'This is just a game. Your life is more important than this game.' I told him I love him to death, and you've got to make the choice, but this game is not that important.''

Driver said Rodgers stood up and stared at him.

''I think I said, 'Aaron, you need to make a choice,''' Driver said. ''And that's when he realized he just couldn't go any more.''

Rodgers, who has started 45 consecutive games for Green Bay, is not allowed to attend meetings or watch film until doctors clear him. Rodgers also suffered a concussion Oct. 10, but was able to play the following week.

"I feel good about it," Flynn said Wednesday. "It was a good day at practice today and I'm excited. I'm just going to go through the week like I'm definitely going to be playing."

Flynn is in his third year out of LSU, where he quarterbacked the Tigers to the national championship in 2008.

The injury to Rodgers comes at the worst possible time for the Packers, who are in need of a win against the NFL's hottest team to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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