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Packers end season in disappointment

By

Mike McCarthy

As it turned out, when Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone injury in week six against the Vikings, the Green Bay Packers season was over.

The Packers capped off their season with a 35-11 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field,  Rodgers backup, Brett Hundley went 3-6 in games that he started in place of Rodgers, 3-7 if you count the game that he played in after Rodgers was injured.

The Packers finished the year 7-9, their first losing season since 2008.  They were swept in their season-series with Detroit for the first time since 1991.

Brett Hundley threw just one touchdown pass over the last two games, once the Packers were officially out of the playoffs.

The Packers looked like a demoralized bunch on Sunday.  In fact, there were signs that was the case even prior to Sunday as Brett Hundley continued to struggle, week after week.

When Mike McCarthy was asked after Sunday’s game if he sensed his players were demoralized, the coach snapped back. [Read more…]

Adams ruled out of Saturday’s game against the Vikings

By

Davante Adams

The Green Bay Packers have ruled wide receiver Davante Adams out of Saturday’s home finale against the Minnesota Vikings.  There’s a good chance that the Packers will hold Adams out of the final game at Detroit next week as well.

Adams suffered his second concussion of the season, taking a blindside helmet shot from Carolina’s Thomas Davis.  It’s also Adams third concussion in 14 months.

For the season, Adams ranks second in the NFL with 10 touchdown catches, trailing only Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins.  He has 74 receptions (12th) for 885 yards (16th).  Even more impressive, Adams reached those numbers while Aaron Rodgers was sidelined for seven games.

Adams will likely be at or near the top of a strong free agent receiver class.  It would be shocking if the Packers don’t reach a deal with Adams before he gets to free agency.  Mike McCarthy on Wednesday called Adams the Packers best perimeter player.

The Packers and Vikings kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night at Lambeau Field.

 

Rodgers season comes to an end

By

Brett Hundley

Aaron Rodgers returned to the Green Bay lineup for just one game, a 31-24 loss against the Carolina Panthers.  Just two days later, the Packers placed Rodgers on season-ending injured reserve.  Brett Hundley will return to the starting lineup for the final two games of the season, including Saturday nights home game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers was sore after taking a number of hits in Sunday’s game and felt it was the best decision.

“He’s not happy about it,” McCarthy said.  “It’s a hard day for him.  This is not the way, I don’t think, any player wants to see their season come to a conclusion, being on IR.  We all understand and appreciate and respect his competitive spirit, but we felt as an organization this was in his best interest.

Several times during McCarthy’s press conference on Tuesday, he said, “We felt this was clearly in Aaron Rodgers’ best interest.” [Read more…]

Packers eliminated from playoff contention

By

With Sunday’s 31-24 loss at Carolina, the Green Bay Packers season was hanging by a thread.  That thread broke on Monday night when the Atlanta Falcons knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-21 to officially eliminate the Packers from playoff consideration.

The Packers were eliminated with two games left on their schedule, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The Packers will now close out the season with a home game against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night, following by a road game at Detroit against the Lions the following week.

Minnesota has already wrapped up the NFC North division but the Vikings still have things to play for, like home field throughout the playoffs, or at the very least a home playoff game.  The Packers could have a chance to play spoiler against the Lions, who at this time, are still in playoff contention.

So the Packers are now playing for pride, but there’s no guarantee they’ll have quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the controls.  Mike McCarthy was non-committal on Monday when asked if Rodgers would play the rest of the way if the Packers were eliminated from playoff consideration.

It’s also possible the Packers could be without their top receiver.  Davante Adams is in the teams concussion protocol after being knocked out of the Carolina game with a illegal helmet-to-helmet hit from Carolina’s Thomas Davis.  Davis was suspended two games for that hit on Monday.

 

Packers could be finished tonight

By

Aaron Rodgers – File Photo Courtesy of: UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The Green Bay Packers playoff hopes are expected to officially end tonight when the Atlanta Falcons meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Monday night football action.  If the Falcons win, the Packers are out.  That would mean the Packers would play the final two games of the season, starting with a home game against Minnesota on Saturday, without anything to play for.

Aaron Rodgers returned to the Packers lineup on Sunday and while he threw three touchdown passes, he also tossed three interceptions in a 31-24 loss to the Panthers.

The Packers needed Rodgers to play flawless football in his return from a broken collarbone.  But Rodgers was clearly rusty, completing 26 of 45 for 290 yards.  It was Rodgers first three interception game since 2009 and just the fourth of his career.

“Obviously, I saw it going a little differently,” Rodgers said.  “But I’m proud of our guys for the way they played the last few weeks.  Today, disappointed.  I didn’t play very well.  Obviously, I hold myself to a high standard.  I expected to play well.  It’s a good defense but I made too many mistakes.  Even still, we had a chance there at the end to come back and tie it.” [Read more…]

Rodgers says he’s been cleared to play for the Packers on Sunday

By

Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been out since breaking his collarbone on October 15 at Minnesota, announced on twitter Tuesday night that he’s received medical clearance to return to action this Sunday at Carolina.

Rodgers tweeted: “It’s been a long road from that day to this, but I’m happy to say I’ve been medically cleared to return.  Thanks for all the love, support, prayers, and well wishes over the last 8 weeks.”

Rodgers return means Brett Hundley returns to a backup role.  Hundley went 3-4 in a starting role with Rodgers sidelined.

The Packers (7-6) will need to beat the Panthers (9-4) on Sunday, then win their last two division games against the Vikings (Dec. 23 at Lambeau Field and Dec. 31 at Detroit) and Lions to have a chance at the postseason.

Rodgers underwent a series of scans on Monday, which was followed by several medical opinions with regards to Rodgers potential return.  Various reports indicate the collarbone isn’t totally healed, but the medical opinion and that of Packers management feel the risk of further injury is worth taking as the Packers try to make a playoff run.

 

Hundley did his job, keeping the Packers in the playoff picture

By

Aaron Rodgers – Photo Courtesy of: UPI/Bill Greenblatt

If Aaron Rodgers returns to the Green Bay Packers lineup this week against the Carolina Panthers, they’ll be in the position most would have hoped for when backup Brett Hundley took over eight weeks ago.

The Packers and their fans were hoping Hundley would keep the Packers in playoff contention, allowing Rodgers to return with a chance to get the Packers into the postseason.

After Hundley led the Packers to another comeback win on Sunday, 27-21 over the Cleveland Browns in overtime, he admitted himself that the goal was to keep the Packers in the thick of things.  He’s won three games since taking over.

Hundley had his best day yet, completing 35 of 46 for 265 yards and three touchdowns.  The Packers came from 21-7 down to win it.  It’s a franchise record third time in one season that the Packers have rebounded to win a game after being down by 14 or more points.

Davante Adams caught a pair of touchdown passes, the first coming with :17 left to play in regulation to force overtime and the second coming with the Packers already in field goal position.  Adams caught a pass and broke a tackle, out-racing the Browns to the end zone for the game winning score. [Read more…]

Rodgers set to practice with Packers on Saturday (AUDIO)

By

Aaron Rodgers

Barring any setbacks, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to practice with the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, a month and a half after he was sidelined with a broken collarbone.

Rodgers has a workout scheduled for Friday afternoon and if all goes well, he’s expected to join the team for practice on Saturday.

While the Packers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Rodgers won’t be able to play for two more weeks, having to remain on injured reserve for a total of eight weeks.

Mike McCarthy admitted that would be great to see Rodgers on the practice field.

“I think it’s a big deal when you see your leader out there,” McCarthy said.  “Yeah, definitely.  The guys have been able to watch him work here the last couple weeks.

During McCarthy’s Friday press conference, the coach also ruled out defensive back Kevin King (shoulder) and running back Ty Montgomery (ribs) for Sunday’s game.

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on the chance of Aaron Rodgers practicing on Saturday :13

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy says Rodgers practicing is a shot in the arm for his teammates :23

Rodgers works on side as teammates practice

By

QB Aaron Rodgers UPI/Bill Greenblatt

While the Green Bay Packers were busy preparing for Sunday’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was busy on the side, getting some cardio work in, as well as some agility drills and eventually taking some snaps from a team trainer.

Nobody is really sure if or when Rodgers will be back this season, but his appearance on the practice field was the first time in front of the team’s media.

Rodgers was whipping a towel down in a throwing motion with his right arm, similar to drill work of a baseball pitcher.

The Packers are hoping they can secure enough wins to keep them in the playoff hunt with a potential Rodgers return late in the season.

Rodgers broke his collarbone against the Vikings on Oct. 15 and had surgery a short time later.  He was placed on injured reserve Oct. 20, which means he can begin practicing with the team six weeks after that date.  He is eligible to play eight weeks after Oct. 20.

Rodgers working out while his team practices has at least served the purpose of exciting some of his teammates.  But they all know if they don’t do their job, then it won’t matter if Rodgers is ready to return late in the season or not.

 

Packers secure much needed victory

By

Brett Hundley

Brett Hundley threw for 212 yards and a touchdown to collect his first NFL win and secure a much needed victory for Green Bay.  The Packers snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Bears 23-16 at Soldier Field on Sunday.

Hundley threw a 17-yard touchdown to Davante Adams to give the Packers a 23-13 lead with 5:29 left to play and the Packers (5-4) held on for the win, beating the Bears (3-6) for the eighth time in the last nine games.

The win was the first for the Packers since they last beat Dallas back on October 8.  Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone against the Vikings one week later and the Packers have been winless until Sunday.

Hundley completed 18 of 25 passes and Ty Montgomery ran for a 37-yard touchdown in the second quarter.  But the Packers ended up losing both Montgomery (ribs) and starting tailback Aaron Jones (knee) to injury.  Jamaal Williams came in to rush for 67 yards on 20 carries and the Packers totaled 160 yards on 37 carries. [Read more…]