MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

I mean, we're all thinking it - Rodgers could just be lying, right? I hear a lot of liars during the day, and I gotta say, that quote + the situation sounds a lot like a liar. You're playing like shit, bud, just own up to it.

 

I havnt heard of too many QB's that have a confirmed broken thumb not go on IR... the thought has crossed my mind to be honest and I wouldnt put it passed him. He hasnt even thrown for over 300 yards in a game in like 17 or so consecutive games, so the broken thumb may or may not be a factor, but he hasnt been terrific in a long while.

 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his thumb in Week Five. It took him nearly seven weeks to acknowledge that the thumb is broken.

Why didn’t he say so sooner?


There are three possibilities, as we see it. First, he’s been tempted to disclose it since it happened, and he finally gave in to the urge to make sure everyone knows what he’s been dealing with. Second, he decided in the aftermath of Thursday’s poor performance against the Titans that he needed to give credence to the built-in excuse for multiple poor throws. Third, he’s laying the foundation for the endgame of his season, and possibly his career.

If the Packers don’t turn things around soon, Rodgers may end up on injured reserve for the rest of the year, with Jordan Love taking over.

Of course, if that happens, the question then becomes whether Rodgers will retire after the season, or even whether he’ll try to play for another team in 2023. The former is far more likely.

There’s also a chance Rodgers will be determined to not let a subpar 2022 be his final act in the NFL, and that he’ll decide to come back for one last ride.

Regardless, the current ride could be ending. Rodgers is too smart to do anything accidentally. He had a plan for saying what he said. And the plan could be that, if the Packers lose to the Eagles and fall to 4-8, he’ll slide to IR for the rest of 2022, with his status in 2023 to be determined at some point down the line.

PFT

 

I will also inject this.

If its true that he has a confirmed broken thumb on his throwing hand, why hasnt the coaching staff of any others mentioned it but him? And if true, wouldnt you as a team-mate be highly pissed your QB isnt in the position to fully help you win, but actually be detriment to the team? This all points to Rodgers and the coaching staff being very self-centered and conceded... Looks like Rodgers is running the show in GB without the best interest in the team winning.

By the way - It couldnt happen to a nicer QB and bunch of guys.

 

If he’s had a broken thumb since week five, aren’t the Packers in violation of the injury report rules? Shouldn’t there be some kind of disciplinary action, with a fine and possibly draft picks taken away?

 

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was back on the practice field Thursday.

Jackson did not practice on Wednesday because of a hip injury, but head coach John Harbaugh said there was no concern about his availability for Sunday and that will remain the case after Thursday’s session. Jackson is listed as a full participant on the team’s injury report.

The outlook for facing the Jaguars is less positive for a handful of other Ravens. Safety Kyle Hamilton (knee), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hip), and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (hip) were all out of practice.

Guard Kevin Zeitler (illness) joined Jackson in a return to full practice while running back Gus Edwards (hamstring, knee) was full after being limited on Wednesday.

PFT

 

If it doesn’t keep him from practicing, it isn’t an injury they have to disclose. They removed probable as one of the injury labels a few years back.

Now, the NFL looks much more closely to the practice designations, if he isn’t listed as a limited participant, then there isn’t anything to disclose.

I haven’t checked his practice designations over the past several weeks, but if he was a full participant, then they are not violating anything.

 

Signs point to no Justin Fields on Sunday



In recent weeks, Bears quarterback Justin Fields has become one of the most exciting players in the NFL. We may have to wait at least another week to see him play again.

Per multiple reports, Fields isn’t likely to play on Sunday against the Jets. He made the trip to New Jersey, but it’s currently looking as if he won’t suit up.


ESPN’s version is more pessimistic than NFL Media’s. The former says Fields is “not expected to play.” The latter contends that Fields will get a chance to go through pre-game warmups before making the decision.

The most obvious indication that Fields likely wouldn’t go came earlier in the day, when the Bears elevated quarterback Nathan Peterman from the practice squad. He would serve as the game-day No. 2 to Trevor Siemian, who will start if Fields doesn’t play.

Siemian played for the Jets in 2019, starting one game.

Fields injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder late in last Sunday’s loss to the Falcons. It has been described as dislocated, but multiple reports rebutted that claim. Regardless, it’s injured. And Fields apparently won’t be playing, based on current reporting.

PFT

 

Deshaun Watson set for reinstatement Monday



The Browns won’t have quarterback Deshaun Watson for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers, but they should have him for their Week 13 game against the Texans.

Sunday’s game is the 11th of the year for Cleveland and it is the final one of the suspension that Watson received for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. Watson was accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women and he has settled more than 20 civil lawsuits filed against him.


In addition to the suspension, Watson was fined $5 million and ordered to follow a treatment plan in order to return to the field. Per multiple reports, Watson has complied with those terms and is set to be reinstated on Monday.

The Browns have said that the plan is for Watson to replace Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback once he’s eligible to play. Assuming he does take the field against his former team on December 4, it will be the first regular season game for Watson since the end of the 2020 season.

PFT

 

Report: Aaron Rodgers has avulsion fracture in thumb



It’s arguably no coincidence that, with Green Bay’s playoff chances circling the drain — and with quarterback Aaron Rodgers looking particularly inaccurate during crunch time of a Week 11 loss to the Titans — more information has been emerging about a thumb injury through which he has been playing.

With the Packers at 4-7 and a stiff challenge coming tonight at Philadelphia, the foundation quite possibly is being put in place for Rodgers to slide to injured reserve, once the Packers’ playoff hopes are dashed, not mathematically but for practical purposes. That could come as soon as tonight, if the Packers lose and fall to 4-8.


Rodgers himself first disclosed that the thumb is broken, in the days after he heard boos following a pair of bad throws in the fourth quarter of the loss to Tennessee. Now, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Rodgers has an “avulsion fracture.”

Rapoport writes that the injury is “serious enough that surgery is almost always the answer to fix this type of injury.” He also says that an avulsion fracture “causes the ligament to rip away from the attachment, taking some bone with it.”

Sounds painful. Given that description, it’s incredible Rodgers is playing through it.

“Incredible he’s playing through it,” Rapoport tweeted.

What did I just say?

I’m not disputing the extent of the injury. I’m not disputing, as Rapoport asserts, that the injury will heal only with surgery. I’m not disputing, as Rapoport explains, that surgery will happen “only after Rodgers is done playing for this season.”

Here’s my point. If, as Rapoport characterizes the situation, it’s a near-Herculean task for Rodgers to keep playing, he’ll be done playing for the season when it looks as if the Packers won’t be playing after Week 18.

The Packers won’t likely won’t have a problem with that. Rodgers slipping to IR would give the team a chance to get Jordan Love ready for 2023. When Rodgers’s thumb, and the rest of his body, likely will be long gone.

PFT

 

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers exits Sunday night loss early with ribs injury

Already playing through a broken thumb, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is now dealing with a ribs injury that ended his Sunday evening early.

Rodgers left Sunday night's 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter and did not return. He was replaced by Jordan Love.

Though announced by the team as an oblique injury, Rodgers clarified he had injured ribs when he spoke to reporters after the game. Upon his exit, he went to the locker room for X-rays which he said were unclear as to whether he had sustained any fractured ribs. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday, and if tests come back negative, he intends to play in Week 13.

Rodgers said he injured his ribs during the second quarter. In the third quarter, he was sacked on the Packers' initial second-half possession, which ended with a punt.

On the sidelines, he was attended to and seemed to be favoring his mid-section. He then piloted Green Bay to a field goal on its ensuing offensive possession, but was visibly in pain. At the conclusion of the drive, Rodgers, who added he was worried about a potentially punctured lung and was in a great deal of pain, exited to the locker room under his own power.

Love took over on the ensuing drive and promptly threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson. Love finished the game completing 6 of 9 passes for 113 yards.

Rodgers, in just more than a half's worth of play, finished his night 11-of-16 passing for 140 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.


At 4-8, the Packers' postseason odds are long, but Rodgers said he wants to keep going as long as he physically can.

"As long as we're mathematically alive, I'd like to be out there," Rodgers said.

NFL.com

 

Jalen Hurts topped 150 passing yards and 150 rushing yards, a rare feat in NFL history



Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had a rare performance in Sunday night’s win over the Packers.

Hurts had 153 passing yards and 157 rushing yards, making it just the fourth time in NFL history that a player reached 150 yards both passing and rushing in a game.


The three previous times it happened were three very memorable games from great running quarterbacks: Michael Vick had 173 passing yards and 173 rushing yards in a Falcons win over the Vikings that ended with Vick running for a touchdown. Colin Kaepernick had 263 passing yards and 181 rushing yards in a 49ers playoff win over the Packers. And Lamar Jackson had 236 passing yards and 152 rushing yards in a win over the Bengals during his MVP season in 2019.

Hurts is getting some attention as an MVP candidate himself, and he’s winning games for the Eagles in unique fashion.

PFT

 

Did anybody else wish Love would have brought the packers back for a win just to rodgers try and explain it away in the post game?

 

I'm rooting for the Packers regardless but I'm no Rodgers fan. It would be nice to see him squirm a bit.

 

I think Love already kind of did that, honestly. I don't think Rodgers had to deal with it immediately, but it is no doubt on everyone's mind all week. Some reporter is going to ask the coaches, if not Rodgers, about whether Love earned more playtime over Rodgers next week. And that's a beautiful thing. Because we all know Love isn't "it", but if he makes Rodgers mad, then he's just right to me.

 

Love has got the perfect matchup this week to heap a whole load of pressure on Erin, i know that much. I would be pretty surprised if he lets him take his job for that game, i have to figure Rodgers will try as hard as he can to go in that one.

 

I think this is why he's saying to everyone that he's going to play if he's cleared. The Packers are done - mathematically or not - and he knows that. But if he's going to have leverage in contract issues going forward, he needs the Packers to keep doubting Love, and for teams not to see Rodgers looking bad in comparison. Whether it's ego or leverage, letting Love go put up numbers doesn't help him at all.

 

Absolutely. I expect him to play. There may not be a player in the league who's a bigger expert at being a job stealer than Erin, and above all else the 1 thing that terrifies a job stealer the most is having their job stolen.

Im betting on ego over leverage as well personally. I bet there's been a very large degree of taking it personally ever since the kid was drafted. Rodgers has prob been rubbing the soap bar on the floor in the showers before Love goes in every day after practise for the last 3years.

 

Matt LaFleur: Aaron Rodgers feeling better, will start if healthy



Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers couldn’t finish Sunday night’s loss to the Eagles because of injured ribs, but said after the game that he would try to play against the Bears in Week 13 if scans of the injury show no serious damage.

On Monday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said at his press conference that the full evaluation of Rodgers’ tests are not yet complete and that Rodgers will indeed get the start against Chicago if cleared by the medical staff. LaFleur also said that Rodgers is feeling better on Monday than he was on Sunday.


Rodgers said on Sunday that he’d like to keep playing as long as the Packers remain mathematically alive for a playoff spot. LaFleur said he is not looking past the Chicago game when it comes to playing Rodgers or Jordan Love.

The Packers do have a bye after the Chicago game and the result of that matchup as well as other results around the league could make that the point where the Packers fully begin to look toward next year. For this week, though, Rodgers is very much in the picture.

PFT