GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It’s not looking good for Aaron
Rodgers to be back under center for the Green Bay Packers in their Thanksgiving
matchup at Detroit.
“I would say he’s slim to none,” coach Mike McCarthy said of Rodgers’
chances to play against the Lions.
Rodgers broke his left collarbone Nov. 4, an injury that
often takes at least four weeks to heal. By kickoff time Thursday, Rodgers will
still not be four weeks removed from the injury.
“Let’s be
honest, he’s got to practice,” McCarthy said. “There’s some physical rehab
hurdles to get through that he hasn’t reached yet. It would be a huge stretch
for him to play in this game.”
McCarthy
acknowledged that Rodgers “would like to play,” but the medical staff hasn’t
given the team any indication that it will be possible.
“If
he doesn’t practice Wednesday, he won’t play in the game,” McCarthy said.
Given Rodgers’ status, another quarterback will have to try
to get the Packers their first win since Oct. 27. Which quarterback Green Bay
is going with, though, remains a mystery for now.
Scott Tolzien has started the past two games, but he was
benched midway through the third quarter of Green Bay’s tie game Sunday against
the Minnesota Vikings. Tolzien had completed 7-of-17 passes for 98 yards with
one rushing touchdown, no interceptions and a 60.4 passer rating.
Matt Flynn, signed by the Packers just 12 days earlier, took
Tolzien’s place in the lineup. Flynn, in his first action for Green Bay since
setting multiple franchise records in Week 17 of the 2011 season, led the team
back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to salvage a tie.
But that performance from Flynn wasn’t enough to guarantee
him the starting spot in Rodgers’ absence.
“Well,
we’re going to play either Matt or Scott, obviously,” McCarthy said. “I’ll be
honest, the conversation is we’ve got to get two quarterbacks ready, frankly.
This experience that we’ve gone through the last four weeks with a different
quarterback in four straight games, we’re taking a hard look at our
preparation.
“Who has
the ball at the beginning of the game, we’ll let you know down the line. I have
no announcements on that yet today.”
McCarthy
said he didn’t pick a starter yet “because I don’t have to.” However, it sure
seems like he’s leaning towards Flynn.
“Matt played very
well and he deserves to start,” McCarthy said. “I like the way Scott has grown.
So those are the things we’re talking about. So we’re going to do the best we
can to make sure they’re both ready.”
