The Packers fell to 4-2 on Sunday after a 23-10 loss in Minnesota to the Vikings. Surely a divisional rival loss stings, but the big news of this game — and the weekend, was that Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers left injured early in the game. The hit from Griffen wasn’t anything over the top but the way Rodgers fell looked early like a shoulder or collarbone injury. As we now know, this was the latter that fell to be true.
The news broke and a broken collarbone is confirmed — NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reported that he may be able to return in 8 weeks but that seems like a stretch at this point. He opted for surgery but there is no doubt it won’t be an easy road to recovery. His backup, third-year QB Brett Hundley, came in and looked painfully mediocre. Though against a tough Vikings defense, he went 18-33 for 157 yards, 1 TD, and 3 INT. The Packers will look to tread water as they already are 4-2 but the North is starting to look to be one of the tougher divisions as now even the Bears are starting to look to be up and coming.
This is a huge hit to the Packers in a season where just about everything is up for grabs. Almost mid-way through the season, there is really no stand-out contender in the NFC and the Packers were certainly a favorite. Though their defense is weak, Rodgers was able to always bail them out (see: last week vs. Cowboys). McCarthy has stated that he’s happy with Hundley going forward and has confidence that he’ll be able to hold the fort. Honestly, nobody has seen anything on Hundley since his UCLA days so it’s tough to say how he’ll do but I can’t see the Packers being able to do anything worth a damn. McCarthy is the same coach who has only been able to win one Super Bowl with a generational talent like Rodgers — and I think he’ll be painfully exposed without his star QB to bail him out.
The rumors are floating around the internet on who the Packers will sign — whether it be Romo, Kaepernick, RG3, or even Brett Favre (yeah right). I believe McCarthy here when he says that he wants to stick with Hundley. Bringing in someone who isn’t in football shape during the middle of the season doesn’t seem like something that McCarthy would do — especially if they’re expecting a chance of Rodgers being back by Week 14.
And by the way, I think Mike McCarthy is already done hearing about Colin Kaepernick.
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