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The Green Bay Packers sit at 5-6 and the buzz around town is that small glimmer of hope that if the Packers can win some moderately cushy match ups against the Buccaneers and Browns over the next two weeks, Aaron Rodgers will return on his white horse like Gandalf in the Battle of Helm’s Deep.
Green Bay looked good against the Steelers so it’s not inconceivable that backup QB Brett Hundley has turned a corner to help stabilize the ship.
However, in the NFC, the Packers need additional help and that doesn’t appear to be happening. The NFC Wild Card has Carolina, New Orleans, Atlanta and Los Angeles Rams in those four positions. All of those teams won and the worst record belongs to the 7-4 Falcons who have been hot over the past couple games.
So, should the Packers even want Aaron Rodgers to come back to risk further injury for a futile playoff run?
Here’s the buzz around the league for Rodgers’ impending return:
Packers undecided on when Aaron Rodgers will return to practice— ESPN.com
Rodgers is eligible to return to practice this Saturday (12/2). Coach McCarthy insists that he’s more focused on game-planning for Tampa Bay and that there’s a protocol in place for Rodgers’ injury progression.
Even Rodgers’ return may not be enough for Packers— FOXSports.com
The Packers are 2 games out of the Wild Card spot with 8 teams having better records in the NFC and an additional 3 having the same record as the Pack. If this were the AFC, might be a different story.
Packers could return rookie playmaker this week— PackersWire
In non-QB news, rookie RB Aaron Jones could be slated to return for the game against the Bucs. Jones has missed the past 2 games with an MCL injury sustained against the Chicago Bears in Week 10.
Mike McCarthy's football math: 5+5 = shot at playoffs for Packers— ESPN.com
Technically, he’s not wrong. The Packers pretty much have to win out to get a small chance to make the postseason. But they also need other NFC teams to crater.
NFL rules expert clarifies key play in Steelers-Packers game— San Diego Union Tribune
In a key play late in the game against the Steelers, Hundley was taken down with a questionable hit by linebacker T.J. Watt. NFL officiating expert, Mike Pereira, says it’s not a helmet-to-helmet hit because Hundley pulled the ball down to become a runner.
Decide for yourself: