It is simply amazing how quickly things change in life in general. Of course, that also applies to the National Football League. The fortunes or misfortunes of a team can change in a heartbeat or a single play. We don’t know what is going to happen the remainder of the season for the defending NFC North champion Green Bay Packers. One week after quarterback Aaron Rodgers led his team to a scintillating last-minute road win over the Dallas Cowboys, he would go down hard at Minnesota when Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr landed on the perennial Pro Bowler.
The result was a broken collarbone, the same kind of injury that felled Rodgers back in 2013. So last Sunday, Mike Mccarthy’s team fell to 4-2 via a 23-10 loss to the Purple Gang.
The bad news
On Friday, the Green Bay Packers officially put the 13-year signal-caller on injured reserve following his recent surgery. So what does that mean when it comes to the remainder of the season and to the Pack as a team? “We’re actually discussing all the long-term options at this point,” explained head coach Mike McCarthy to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky on Friday. “The focus has been on Aaron's health, making sure everything went well with the surgery, and those discussions will continue.” The coach also added that he was advised from Dr.
Pat McKenzie that the surgery went well.
As for Rodgers, it means he will be out a minimum of eight weeks. It would make him eligible to return to the field in Week 15 when the Packers visit Charlotte and the Carolina Panthers. It is important to stress that it does not mean that he will miss the rest of the season, at least not at this stage (and contrary to some media speculation and assumption).
Going forward
This Sunday at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers welcome quarterback Drew Brees and the 3-2 New Orleans Saints. Sean Payton’s club has won three straight games after a miserable 0-2 start and their veteran signal-caller has always put up impressive numbers when facing Dom Capers’ defense. As for McCarthy’s team, backup Brett Hundley will be making his first NFL start.
A fifth-round draft choice in 2015 out of UCLA, the former Bruins’ standout has appeared in a total of six regular-season contests these past two seasons. It has added up to 174 yards, one score and three interceptions. Of course, 154 of those yards, the one TD pass and all three picks came last week in a relief role against the Vikings.
It’s pretty simple. Brett Hundley is the Packers’ quarterback for the foreseeable future. But it would also be foolish to rule out a return by Rodgers sometime in December. We saw it back in 2013 and history could certainly repeat itself.
