Rodgers to get 'every chance to play'
[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20081001&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=81001214&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=150&Border=0[/img_r]If his friend Trent Dilfers history of shoulder injuries is the barometer, then Aaron Rodgers has a pretty good chance of starting at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers this week against Atlanta.
Rodgers didnt practice Wednesday because of the sprained throwing shoulder he sustained last week at Tampa Bay, and the plan is to have him wait until Friday to try throwing a football and taking snaps with the No. 1 offense in practice.
But he was heartened by his talk this week with the recently retired Dilfer, who told him Rodgers dislocated his throwing shoulder 10 times in his 14-year career as an NFL quarterback but never missed the next game. Dilfer took painkiller injections to help him perform through some of those dislocations, and Rodgers appeared quietly confident that he too will be able to play even if his shoulder remains sore as it is through Sunday.
Theres a lot of options once we get to Saturday and Sunday if Im still feeling the way Im feeling (Wednesday), Rodgers said, alluding to possibility of painkillers if needed.
Coach Mike McCarthy cautioned that the Packers will take into account the possibility of long-term injury to Rodgers shoulder when deciding whether he will play Sunday.
But if Rodgers can get his shoulder is strong enough through rehabilitation to make most or all of the throws required of an NFL quarterback by Sunday, hell probably play.
Any time youre dealing with joint injuries, it's the strength, McCarthy said, to make sure hes in position to operate and not have further injury or anything, be able to perform at the proper level, too. Long-term effects, long-term vision with Aaron will be primary focus, so we'll be smart with him. Every time I say were smart, you guys think he's not going to play, so you can do what you want with that. But we're just going to take it through rehab.
He felt very good this morning. He felt like he made a lot of progress from Monday to Tuesday and then Tuesday to Wednesday. Hes got the full range of motion and the things that he struggled with a little bit on Monday, they were much better (Wednesday), so we'll see how the week goes.
Another factor in Rodgers favor aside from his desire to play Ill do anything to get on the field, he said Wednesday is McCarthys willingness to play him regardless of whether he practices this week.
Rodgers took some snaps on running plays during the long jog-through at the start of Wednesdays practice, but he didnt throw and left the Don Hutson Center after the jog-through to rehabilitate his shoulder while his teammates practiced.
But even if Rodgers' shoulder is too sore or weak to throw much Friday, McCarthy said hell give Rodgers until Sunday to get strong enough to play. McCarthys alternative if Rodgers cant play is to start seventh-round draft pick Matt Flynn, so the long leash with the fourth-year pro Rodgers is understandable.
I'm going to give Aaron Rodgers every chance to play in the game, McCarthy said at his Wednesday press conference. I really can't comment on it until he sees the doctor Friday. I know he's young and there may be a concern about him missing practice reps and so forth, but like I said, I'm going to give him every chance to play.
Rodgers said his shoulder has noticeably improved since Sunday, though it still was too sore and weak to throw Wednesday. He can run without discomfort, and though he wasnt able to sleep much Sunday night because of the pain, by Tuesday night slept well.
Thats kind of an indication things on a big picture are getting better, Rodgers said. The swelling is going down. Now its really about the strength. If I can get the strength Ill be able to throw and be able to play.
Rodgers also figures to be motivated by questions about his durability and the NFL-record 253 consecutive starts by his predecessor with the Packers, Brett Favre.
Rodgers denies Favres streak is pushing him to play and pointed to other injuries hes played through earlier in his career, such as the broken index finger he sustained against Illinois his sophomore season at California, as evidence that hell play if its at all possible.
Rodgers said he didnt practice the week after he broke his finger and hardly threw the ball, but he made his second career start the next Saturday against USC and led Cal to a 34-31 triple-overtime win. He didnt miss a game the rest of the season despite the broken finger, which he couldnt have numbed because he needed feeling in his index finger to throw the ball.
Rodgers rejected the suggestion that Favres streak has to motivate him in some way. But considering all the well-publicized questions about Rodgers durability because of the broken foot that ended his season in 2006 and pulled hamstring that took him out of the No. 2 quarterback role the final four regular-season games last year, its hard to believe he doesnt feel he has something to prove.
I want to play every game, he said. I dont need that, Oh, youve got to play because Brett played 250 in a row, I dont need that. I have pride in myself. Ive played with some serious injuries before, so its personal pride. I dont need extra fuel to play. I want to play extremely, extremely badly.
Rodgers was optimistic hell practice Friday, so hed have at least one day of full-speed action as preparation for the Falcons on Sunday. Hes attending all meetings and doing his normal videotape work.
Friday will be important if I can practice, Rodgers said. Its kind of a broad display of what we practice Wednesday and Thursday, we do our red zone, we do our short-yardage, we do our third downs, we do our normal down and distance. So that will hit every category. Potentially (McCarthy) could lengthen the Friday practice to give me a couple more reps.
Flynn, who took the majority of snaps with the No. 1 offense in practice on Wednesday, said he thinks Rodgers will play even though Flynn is preparing this week to be the starter.
Every time Ive come in here hes been in the training room, so hes doing obviously everything he can, Flynn said.
Flynn, a rookie, shared practice time on Wednesday with Brian Brohm, another rookie who will be Flynns backup if Rodgers cant play. They will get similar work today with Rodgers sidelined.
I was actually impressed with both of them (in practice), McCarthy said of his rookie quarterbacks. I thought they did a very good job of taking to the coaching points, playing fast, as far as the vision, had their eyes in the right places and threw the ball well.