Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have time to ease back into action
By Jon Dove
Aaron Rodgers is expected back in the lineup for the Green Bay Packers, but he faces some tough defenses right away.
The Green Bay Packers plan on starting Aaron Rodgers this weekend against the Carolina Panthers. His return comes at a perfect time for the Packers who are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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However, Rodgers won’t have time to ease his way back into action. Carolina’s defense is one of the better units in the league. They currently have 40 sacks as a team which ties them for third in the entire NFL.
Rodgers is going to be under a lot of pressure right from the start. Look for the Panthers to dial up some blitz packages and test Rodgers. It’s important to note that this game is in Carolina which will add the crowd noise to the things Rodgers must overcome.
Things don’t get easier for Rodgers after this week with the Minnesota Vikings coming to town. Minnesota features an elite defense that also does a good job getting after the quarterback.
The Packers are doing the right thing by putting the medically cleared Rodgers back in the lineup. However, he will need some time to work off the rust. It doesn’t help that he will be doing so against some really tough defenses.
Things will get interesting if the Packers lose this week’s game in Carolina. They are on the fringe of the playoff race and a loss could realistically knock them out of contention. At that point, will the Packers could decide to put Rodgers back on the bench.