Packers to activate Aaron Rodgers from injured reserve & waive Joe Callahan

Although it will not be official until the NFL’s transaction report is released on Saturday afternoon, we finally have news of the roster move that returns quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the Green Bay Packers’ 53-man roster off injured reserve.

Multiple media reports on Saturday afternoon indicate that Rodgers has been returned to active status, a move that needed to have been made before the end of the league day on Saturday (which is 4:00 PM Eastern time). In the corresponding move, the Packers have elected to waive quarterback Joe Callahan, who served as Brett Hundley’s backup during Rodgers’ stint on IR.

Obviously, this paves the way for Rodgers to return to the starting lineup beginning with Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Hundley was of course going to serve as Rodgers’ backup once again. It is worth noting that the release of Callahan indicates that the Packers are confident in Rodgers’ collarbone holding up over the final three games of the regular season.

It is a sure thing that the Packers will hope that Callahan clears waivers, and that if he does they will attempt to re-sign him to the practice squad once again.

For now, however, the final step towards Rodgers’ return has been taken. Now the anticipation for kickoff on Sunday can continue building.