Aaron Rodgers season 'potentially' over, says Green Bay coach
Friday 20 October 2017 09:31, UK
It's early in the first quarter. The Green Bay Packers face a second-and-nine from their own 39-yard line, and Aaron Rodgers rolls to his right.
Just one week after orchestrating another one of his miraculous game-winning comebacks to see off the Cowboys in Dallas, Rodgers and the Packers are in Minnesota, hoping to stamp their authority on the NFC North and move to 5-1 on the season.
Rodgers, a six time Pro-Bowler, two-time league MVP and the NFL's all-time leader in passer rating and touchdown-to-interception ratio is playing some of the best football of his career. He's had ten touchdowns and only one pick in his last three games.
But, on that second-and-nine, with Rodgers rolling right - where he's usually at his most comfortable - he was chased down by Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr and driven to the turf after he released the ball.
Tight end Martellus Bennett dropped the predictably perfectly-placed pass, but after the play all eyes were on Rodgers, who lay on the turf, unable to move his right arm.
Within minutes, Rodgers was carted off. He didn't return, and the Packers lost the game 23-10. On Monday, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone and it will require surgery. "Potentially, his season is over," he said.
The Packers have a 4-2 record, now tied with the Vikings at the top of the North, with the Detroit Lions (3-3) one game back, and the Chicago Bears (2-4) two.
After losing arguably the greatest player in the game today, what's next for Green Bay? Sky Sports' Jeff Reinebold still believes the playoffs are a possibility for the team but that back-up Brett Hundley has to step up.
"The fact they are ahead right now gives them the chance," Reinebold said. "Now they have to protect that lead. The issue is, that they've been so quarterback-centric on offense.
"You lose probably the best quarterback playing the game right now for a player, who in terms of his time under centre is essentially rookie, and you're asking him to step in and make all the decisions and all the plays, do all of the things that Rodgers did. I think it's a really tall ask."
Hundley is a fifth-round pick thrown into the fire, who struggled on Sunday against the Vikings - but who wouldn't when compared to Rodgers? He was picked off by Xavier Rhodes on his first pass attempt, and finished with 18 completions on 33 attempts, for 157 yards to go with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Can he cut it in this league? "I know the kid from his college career at UCLA," added Reinebold. "He was a big strong guy with all the physical tools. His athleticism was a selling point, but he struggled as pocket passer.
"He never really played at the level consistently that his physical tools probably said he should have. But you saw flashes of greatness."
The Packers have expressed their support of Hundley, and trying to coax those flashes of greatness more consistently out of him. But, should they be considering a move for another quarterback?
"There's been some talk about Colin Kaepernick," said Reinebold. "There's also been some talk about trying to get Tony Romo out of retirement.
"If I'm the Packers, if I can get a guy like Romo who's been there and done it, it would be great. It's not going to be too big for him, he understands what the team is doing, he's been in a million offenses and he's been in the west coast a little bit.
"I think that makes more sense than going out and getting a guy like Kap who is not the kind of quarterback that they need for their offense."
Hundley seems like he's Green Bay's guy for now, but Reinebold says the burden can't lie solely with the young QB and that others will need to step up in Rodgers' absence too.
"The pressure now gets diffused around the football team," he added. "The defense is going to have to play better, special teams are going to have to be a factor and, most importantly, they are going to have to find a running game somehow.
"You look at them - Ty Montgomery is really a wide receiver, and he's their featured back! It makes it tough."
So far this season, the Packers are 26th in the league in rushing yards. They've averaged only 88.3 yards per game, and outside of rookie Aaron Jones' breakout 125-yard performance against Dallas in Week Five, they haven't had a player go over 55 yards in a game.
Montgomery was initially selected as a wide receiver in 2015, but offered little as a rookie. Last year, due to injuries, he was thrust into a major role in the backfield. He responded with 5.9 yards per attempt - the most in the league among runners with at least 75 attempts - as he tallied 457 yards and three scores on the ground.
Montgomery then spent this offseason dedicating himself to becoming a better back and building up his body to withstand the physical demands at the position. So far, it hasn't paid off - 180 yards on 56 attempts at only 3.2 yards per carry.
Outside of Montgomery, the team has three runners who they drafted in the fourth round or later this year, including the already mentioned Jones. It's not exactly a backfield full of pedigree.
As for the defense, when Green Bay won the Super Bowl in the 2010 season, the defense was one of the best in the league. They were fifth in yards allowed, and second in points allowed, sacks and interceptions. Currently they are among the worst in those categories.
"I think the Packers' defense can play better, and has played better", Reinebold said. "This means that Clay Matthews, Mike Daniels, the secondary, and all the stars on defense are going to really have to step-up and play now.
"They are going to have to get turnovers, they are going to have to get short fields.
"When you have Rodgers, you can get away with things you can't get away with having other quarterbacks. He can make up for mistakes on defense, a blown coverage or a punt return for a touchdown, because he's going to get back on the field and get you points.
"If you're struggling to get points, then it puts so much more pressure on the rest of your football team to play at a high level."
Moving forward, Green Bay's formula should be clear. Consider other young quarterbacks around the league who are excelling. Carson Wentz is playing lights out football with the Philadelphia Eagles, who run the ball well and are limiting opponents on defense.
Similarly, Jared Goff is leading a Rams' resurgence, but he has Todd Gurley racking up 127 yards per game and taking the pressure off. Plus, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has their stars on that side of the ball stepping up.
The spotlight is on Hundley, sure, but every Green Bay player has a responsibility to up their level of play for the team to have success. It begins on Sunday when they host the high-flying New Orleans Saints. Can they keep pace?
