There’s a chance the worst dreams of Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions could come true.
Aaron Rodgers could still return to play at the end of the 2017 season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday morning. Doctors believe that the Green Bay Packers quarterback could resume throwing in December after undergoing surgery on his broken right collarbone last week.
It’s worth noting, however, that a few other NFL insiders were not reporting such positive news. Ian Rapaport of NFL Network tweeted the Packers are “not expecting” a Rodgers return, something that his teammate Tom Pelissero echoed.
The Packers placed Rodgers on the IR, so he can’t be activated until Green Bay’s Dec. 17 against Carolina. Considering all goes well, a Rodgers return would also mean he’d be playing in games that could be important to the NFC North race: at home against the Vikings on Dec. 23 and on the road against the Lions in the regular-season finale on New Year’s Eve.
There’s more than a few things in play here. For one, Rodgers’ rehab would have to go well. He missed seven weeks in 2013 after breaking his left collarbone, but this injury is on his throwing shoulder.
For another, the Packers will have to stay in playoff contention under backup Brett Hundley. The Packers fell to 4-3 after losing to the New Orleans Saints, 26-17.
If the Packers continue to falter under Hundley, there would be little reason to rush Rodgers back.
But if he can do a decent job running the team while Rodgers gets better?
Well, we know what Green Bay fans will be asking Santa for Christmas.
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