Aaron Rodgers' Knee Injury Has QB's Playing Status For Packers-Vikings Unknown Heading Into Weekend

If you’re hoping to get an answer on Aaron Rodgers’ playing status before game day, you might be out of luck. The Green Bay Packers still don’t know who their starting quarterback will be when they host the Minnesota Vikings Sunday afternoon.

Head coach Mike McCarthy gave an update on Rodgers’ knee injury Friday, saying the two-time MVP does feel better than he did at the start of the week. He said Saturday’s practice would provide the team with more insight regarding whether or not the quarterback will be under center for the Packers in Week 2.

“Nothing’s changed,” McCarthy said, via the team’s official website. “He’s clearly day to day. Hopefully he’ll do work tomorrow, but I can’t answer that question.”

Rodgers was carted off the field in the second quarter of Green Bay’s season opener against the Chicago Bears after spraining his knee. With the Packers down 17-0 to start the third quarter, Rodgers returned and eventually led the team to a 24-23 comeback. He hasn’t practiced all week, but the signal caller could still play if he doesn’t see the field before Sunday’s contest.

“He can play with no reps. We’ve established that point some time ago in his career. You’d like to walk off the field Saturday and have your plan set, but this is the NFL. Things happen. We’ll be ready for anything. I know he wants to play. We’ll see how it goes,” McCarthy said.

A hobbled Rodgers might give Green Bay a significantly better chance to win than a healthy DeShone Kizer. The backup completed four of seven passes for no touchdowns and one interception during his limited action in Week 1. Kizer had the NFL’s worst passer rating as the Cleveland Browns’ starter in 2017.

Because of Rodgers’ unknown playing status, most sportsbooks don’t have available betting odds for the upcoming game in Green Bay. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has to set a point spread for every NFL game by Wednesday afternoon for the Westgate SuperContest, and the oddsmakers named Minnesota a seven-point road favorite because they believe the likelihood is Rodgers will sit.

Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone last season in his only start against Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers twice a year ago with backup quarterback Brett Hundley under center for the majority of the snaps.