Green Bay Packers News: Will Aaron Rodgers Be Shut Down For The Rest Of 2018?

The Green Bay Packers' (5-8-1) playoff hopes came to a halt in Chicago on Sunday when the Bears held off their rivals, 24-17. The Bears sealed the win late in the fourth quarter when they ended the star quarterback's NFL-record streak without an interception.

ESPN's Rob Demovsky posed the question about whether to play or sit Rodgers in the final two games of the season against the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions.

The 34-year-old is battling a knee and groin injury, which could make the decision very easy.

However, all indications point to the Packers starting Rodgers.

"I think when you sign up for the 2018 NFL season, you sign up for a 16-game season and hopefully you earn the opportunity to extend that and to compete for a championship," interim head coach Joe Philbin told Demovsky. "Obviously the extension part is over. That being said, you're a football player, you're part of a team and your one role is to the contribute to the overall success of the team. And the team has an opportunity to win a game Sunday against the New York Jets, and if our players, they should want to participate because they're good teammates and they should. I think that's their obligation to the team. So we'll see. If there are other discussions contrary to that, we'll certainly cross that bridge and discuss it.

"Again, I think it's bigger than Aaron Rodgers. This is a football team. You're a football player. You're employed by the Green Bay Packers just like if players or coaches were to say, 'Geez I'd like to go home tonight and not prepare as hard for this game because we're not going to the playoffs,' I mean, that's not a professional approach to the job, I don't think."

Rodgers has had a decent season, statistically, throwing for 3,974 yards, 23 touchdowns and only two interceptions. However, his 7.4 yards per attempt is the fourth-lowest of his career since he became a regular starter. Additionally, only 4.3 percent of his passes have gone for touchdowns, the lowest rate of his career as a full-time starter.

Playing Rodgers in the final two games could be beneficial from a leadership standpoint, and it would give the star quarterback a chance to generate chemistry with the team's young players. However, he will also have a full offseason to do that, and at age 35, it might be inadvisable to keep him on the field and risk a serious injury.