Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers left Sunday night’s 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and headed to the locker room in the third quarter. Rodgers, who has suffered a broken right thumb since early October, left the game with what the team originally described as an oblique injury.
At his post-match press conference, Rodgers said he injured his ribs and was having trouble breathing. He went to the locker room for x-rays to make sure he hadn’t punctured a lung. As for when or if he will return to the roster this season, Rodgers said if he’s healthy he wants to be there “as long as we’re mathematically alive” for a playoff spot.
The loss dropped Green Bay’s record to 4-8. They sit 11th in the NFC, three games behind the Commanders for the seventh and final seed.
Backup Jordan Love came on at quarterback in Rodgers’ absence and quickly made an impact, connecting with rookie receiver Christian Watson on a 63-yard touchdown, cutting the Packers’ deficit to 37-30.
Before leaving the game, Rodgers went 11 for 16 with 140 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Rodgers did not have an injury designation for tonight’s game, but played with an avulsion fracture in his right thumb, according to NFL Media. The injury occurred on Oct. 9 in the Packers’ loss to the Giants, when New York defenseman Oshane Ximines hit the number 12 hand during a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game. .
Rodgers hasn’t missed a game because of the thumb and says he will continue to play despite the injury. For now, he says he is not considering surgery.
