-- Even despite being eliminated from playoff contention and essentially left for dead in terms of the NFC playoff race, don't expect Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to go down so quietly.
With a road trip to New York to face the Jets on next week's schedule, Rodgers wants to be the one at the helm of the Packers' offense. The same goes for the following week -- the season finale against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
Basically, Rodgers wants to start the Packers' final two games to close out the year.
"I'd like to be out there and lead us the last two weeks," Rodgers said. "I want to play. I expect to start and play."
Rodgers expressed his desire to finish off what he started last week as well, offering an adamant "hell no" in response to the Packers starting DeShone Kizer at the expense of benching Rodgers to preserve him for next year, which will be his age 36 season.
Perhaps something that could factor into that decision albeit not very much? Injury.
In Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears, Rodgers confirmed that he tweaked his hamstring on the Hail Mary throw to end the first half.
"Yeah, my groin just tightened up a little bit. I was trying to stretch it out throughout the game," Rodgers said. Multiple broadcast angles showed Rodgers wincing as he tried to maneuver various extremities throughout the game.
Rodgers' injury could've been a factor behind him missing throws in the second half. He overthrew Randall Cobb twice and once to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a deep heave where the rookie had his opposition beat downfield. He also missed Equanimeous St. Brown, the other rookie receiver seeing extensive snaps, who he tried to connect with in-stride while throwing on the run. The play was called back due to holding.
Earlier this season, Rodgers suffered a knee injury against this same Bears team, only to return down 20-0 and engineer a miraculous rally to win the game. On Sunday, Rodgers was never knocked out of the game, but he did help the Packers climb out of a 14-3 hole to tie the game at 14.
Rodgers was riding an NFL record 401 pass attempts without an interception before finally throwing one to Bears safety Eddie Jackson on the 402nd attempt. It marked his first interception since the Packers' meeting with the Buffalo Bills back in September, and just his second on the year.
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