Green Bay Packers Quarterback Rodgers Expects to Play in Week 13

The Green Bay Packers aren't quite done yet. Despite suffering a rib injury that forced his exit in a 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, quarterback Aaron Rodgers declared himself ready to go for Week 13's game against the Chicago Bears on Tuesday's episode of the Pat McAfee Show.

BREAKING: "I got good news with the scans so I'll be playing this week" ~@AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/1Wuf9wBwdd
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 29, 2022

Rodgers was in the middle of one of his better performances in what has been a troubled season for the Green Bay Packers, netting 123 passing yards on 19 dropbacks while throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions. Backup quarterback Jordan Love was more than capable in relief, throwing for 113 yards and a touchdown on only nine passes, but it was too little too late. The Packers could not overcome an offensive onslaught by the Eagles that included a preposterous 363 yards rushing.

At 4-8, Rodgers' return may only delay the inevitable for the struggling Packers. The AFC North is likely completely out of reach due to the excellence of the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings, and a Wildcard will be difficult to come by even if the Packers run the table. Rodgers sports a 23-5 record and 109.9 career passer rating against the Bears and has every chance to dominate them yet again on Sunday, but it may not do the team much good in the long run.

Rodgers' return will however delay the evaluation of potential future starter Love. The Packers drafted Love 24th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft after three consecutive years of finishing outside the top 10 in scoring, but Rodgers bounced back in his late thirties with MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021. With a decision looming on Love's fifth-year option, it may have been valuable to see him in action over an extended period. For now, the Packers will have to settle for the tantalizing taste he gave them this past Sunday.