Careless Rodgers shrugs off Covid, but sore toe cannot be ignored
Updated Friday, November 19, 2021
Some called it the Rust Bowl, because the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks were starting MVP-contending quarterbacks who have been missing action. Physically, Seattle’s Russell Wilson faced the more daunting challenge, out 3 ½ games with a finger injury requiring surgery.
But Aaron Rodgers, who missed 10 days of practice, had to bear more emotional freight as a Covid casualty who opted for horse de-wormer over legitimate vaccinations and had falsely claimed he was “immunized.”
Neither quarterback was at his sharpest for Sunday’s game in Green Bay. In the lowest-scoring first half of an NFL game this year, the Packers led 3-0. They probably felt lucky to have even a field goal, considering the habitual errancy of Mason Crosby. He was wide right on a 42-yarder in the first quarter after missing both his attempts the week before in a 6-point loss. To be fair, his holder dealt him laces on those two misses in Kansas City.
The Seahawks threatened in the third quarter, but Kevin King intercepted in the end zone – just the second pick Wilson has thrown this year. Then it was Rodgers’ turn for the endzone turnover, as Jamal Adams pulled in an off-balance floater.
The game did not have a touchdown until the final 11 minutes. With snow falling in a freezing, windy Lambeau, the Packers called on 250-pound AJ Dillon for two power runs for touchdowns in Green Bay’s 17-0 victory.
After the game, Rodgers spoke to reporters via video conference instead of in-person, apparently to avoid wearing a mask. His demeanor was subdued. He said it was because “I’m just so tired. It’s been a long, long 10 days.”
Teammates comforted him by personally delivering food, which quashed speculation that they might resent his jeopardizing their health and their Super Bowl chances with his science-defying carelessness and selfishness.
Rodgers suffered mild Covid symptoms — sniffles and fatigue — and you have to wonder about residual effects. Lungs can be impaired months later. Cam Newton’s career was derailed by Covid a year ago. He hasn’t been the same since, though he had an encouraging return Sunday, running for a TD and passing for one in a limited outing for the Carolina Panthers, 34-10 upset winners over Arizona.
Rodgers is less concerned about Covid than he is about a stubbed toe that kept him out of practices this week, leading into Sunday’s battle in Minnesota for the NFC North. A similar toe injury ruined Patrick Mahomes’ 2020 postseason. But two weeks shy of 38, Rodgers is less dependent on his legs than he was two years ago.
This injury will cost him some agility, which is why the Packers have slipped from 2 ½-point favorites in Minnesota to 1 ½.
Rodgers is in contention to repeat as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, but the trouncing of Seattle brought attention to the Packers’ ever-tightening defense. Even without All-Pro corner Jaire Alexander, they held Pro Bowl receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to a combined 5 catches for 49 yards. Granted, Wilson was as rusty as the Titanic, but Eric Stokes, Adrian Amos and the previously disappointing Darnell Savage and Kevin King put clamps on Metcalf and Lockett.
When Wilson lofted the unfortunately trendy “50-50 ball” into the end zone, Lockett was outjumped by Amos, who intercepted. Wilson ranks with Rodgers and Tyler Murray as the sport’s most feared shot-takers, but Amos and fellow safety Savage kept the back end secured.
Alexander, rehabbing an injured shoulder, hopes to return for the postseason. In the meantime he’s been adequately replaced by first-round rookie Stokes, who’s clocked 4.29 in the 40 and has 9 pass breakups and an interception for the Pack.
Also rising for the Pack is second-year running back Dillon, 50-yard catch-and-run set up the final score, in the 17-0 decision over Seattle.. Dillon goes from No. 2 RB to No. 1 with Sunday’s knee injury to Aaron Jones, Green Bay’s lead back.
Jones has a slightly torn MCL and is targeted to play Nov. 28 at San Francisco. Considering that he has had this same injury twice before, they can be accused of rushing it here.
The Packers are remarkably resilient and deep in talent. It’s barely noticed that they’re without All-Pro linebacker Za’Darius Smith, who claimed to have a back injury before training camp began. Prior to that, he, like Rodgers, was involved in a contract dispute. Smith also felt snubbed by teammates who did not vote him a captaincy. So there’s considerable mystery about when or if he will return. He could be every bit the diva that Aaron Rodgers is.
But despite all the controversies, the Packers have as much of a claim on their conference as anybody. The early leaders, Arizona and LA Rams, have stumbled. Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay has lost two of its past two games, and coach Bruce Arians said, “We’re a very dumb football team.”
So fortunately for Rodgers and the Packers, dumbness is not debilitating in this year’s NFL.
