Aaron Rodgers Injury Update: Quarterback Suffers Setback, Hopes Small Brace Will Suffice

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is hoping he won't have to go back to wearing the larger brace he was previously using, after he suffered an injury setback last weekend. Since injuring himself in the first half against the Chicago Bears in Week 1, Rodgers had been wearing a large brace on his left knee as he continued to recover while games went by.

However, in Sunday's 31-23 loss to the Detroit Lions, Rodgers was wearing a small, lighter brace but proceeded to take a hit from linebacker Christian Jones during the opening drive of the game. The 34-year-old is now hoping he will get to keep using the smaller brace to help with his mobility when the Packers (2-2-1) take on the San Francisco 49ers (1-4) next on Monday.

"I hope not," Rodgers said when asked if he would have to wear the bigger brace, as per ESPN. "The goal would be to wear the same brace I wore last week, but I have a lot of faith in our training staff and we're going to [use] the brace we feel is most safe and allowing me to do exactly what I'm able to do on Monday."

After training for the first time in a limited capacity late last month, Rodgers completed a full practice session last week for the first time since his injury, as many were hoping it was a sign he was closing in on a full recovery.

However, he did not practice Thursday, following his injury setback as he was back in the rehab group. He was hoping to to return to practice Friday and Sunday before the 49ers game, though.

"Yeah, kind of a setback last week, the beginning of the week," Rodgers explained. "Got to be in the rehab group again today, got a lot of good work in with [assistant trainer] Nate [Weir] and just hoping I get back out there tomorrow and have a feel-good Friday and a practice [Sunday] and be good to go -- hopefully back to where I was in Detroit."

The good news was that wide receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison participated during Thursday's practice and could return against the 49ers. In the loss to the Lions, only No. 1 receiver Davante Adams was playing alongside three rookie receivers. Their returns could help the Packers get back to winning ways and overturn what has been an overall poor offensive display so far this season with an average of 23 points per game.

"It's definitely below, and we've kind of been stuck at that number," Rodgers added. "Scored that a couple of times -- 22, 24, way up to 29 in Week 2. Not quite the standard that we've set here over the years with the type of offense we think we can have and the type of offense we think we could have coming out of training camp."

"I told you guys Week 1 it's going to be a work in progress; I don't think we're far off. I feel kind of like after Washington a couple of years ago. We are very close to getting things going and like I said then and I'll say again now, I feel like if we can get off to a better start on offense, it makes the entire squad play with a different type of confidence. We need to lead from the front as an offense and as a team and give our defense an opportunity to pin their ears back and get after the quarterback and make them a little more one-dimensional."