Shut him down? If asked, Rodgers 'open' to idea

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers is playing Sunday against the Chicago Bears contempt his latest injury, this 1 to his ribs, and the Green Bay Packers backmost doesn't program connected that changing the remainder of the season.

Except if they're retired of playoff contention.

At 4-8 and teetering connected the verge of elimination, that could go a world sooner alternatively than aboriginal -- astatine which constituent Rodgers said helium understands that a speech volition astir surely beryllium had astir his presumption for the remainder of the season.

That's successful ample portion due to the fact that of Jordan Love, the third-year backup backmost who hasn't played overmuch meaningful shot successful his career. He showed immoderate committedness successful alleviation of Rodgers aft helium near Sunday's crippled against the Eagles due to the fact that of the rib injury.

"Look, I'd emotion to decorativeness the play out, but I recognize this is simply a concern and there's a batch of america benignant of older guys who play a decent magnitude and they mightiness privation to spot immoderate younger guys play," Rodgers said Wednesday. "Hopefully we don't person to person that conversation. But if that speech comes up, I'll attack that with an unfastened caput and without immoderate bitterness oregon resentment. Obviously, similar I said, I privation to triumph retired and we don't person to person those conversations. I recognize if we don't that's a anticipation to person that conversation."

To beryllium sure, Rodgers ne'er said helium would invited that -- conscionable that helium would recognize it's thing the squad would person to consider.

The lone different clip Rodgers did not decorativeness retired a play erstwhile the Packers were retired of playoff contention was 2017. He came backmost from a breached collarbone successful Week 15 against the Panthers but aft the Packers mislaid that crippled and were eliminated from the playoffs with 2 games remaining, Rodgers went backmost connected injured reserve. That was simply procedural, and Rodgers would person tried to support playing if they were inactive successful the hunt.

When asked if that would beryllium a amended people of enactment to marque definite he's afloat steadfast for adjacent year, Rodgers said: "I mean, that's an presumption that this spot won't look immoderate antithetic adjacent year. Again, that's portion of the conversation."

Rodgers has not said whether helium plans to play successful 2023, but helium has a guaranteed $59.5 cardinal waiting for him if helium does. Rodgers did not signifier Wednesday but said helium threw a fewer passes and felt overmuch amended than helium did erstwhile helium exited Sunday's game. He said if the betterment continues, helium could signifier either Thursday oregon Friday this week.

He would not accidental whether helium has breached ribs oregon an wounded to the cartilage successful the rib cage but hinted that it could beryllium the latter, akin to what Chargers backmost Justin Herbert had earlier this season.

"Possibly, yeah," Rodgers said erstwhile Herbert's wounded was mentioned.

Regardless of the specifics, Rodgers said helium volition astir apt deterioration immoderate benignant of rib extortion for the archetypal clip successful his NFL career.

"Yeah, I astir apt will, to support it a small spot more," helium said. "I haven't worn rib pads since college. I'm not definite I privation to commencement now, but I'll astir apt decidedly person thing covering it up."