Packers rule out QB Rodgers vs. Patriots has 0 comments

Dec 18th 2010, 19:26 | FFN-Score: 26 points

A Green Bay Packers spokesman said quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the New England Patriots while he recovers from his second concussion of the season, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The news wasn't a surprise, since Rodgers was listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report, but it's a huge blow to the Packers (8-5), who trail the first-place Chicago Bears (9-4) by one game in the NFC North. Green Bay needs a victory over New England, which is an NFL-best 11-2, to keep pace in the playoff race and now turns to backup Matt Flynn as its starter.


The Packers signed rookie quarterback Graham Harrell from the practice squad Saturday to back up Flynn and placed safety Anthony Smith (ankle) on season-ending injured reserve.

Rodgers hasn't missed a game since he replaced Brett Favre as the Packers' starting quarterback in 2008.

Rodgers suffered his first concussion during an Oct. 10 overtime loss at Washington, but he was cleared to return to practice four days later and started in Green Bay's next game. This time, he couldn't practice all week and was only able to attend meetings Friday.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that Rodgers was progressing in his recovery from the head injury that knocked him out of last Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions.

"He's working his way through the process," McCarthy said. "There are stages that you work through. But he's making progress. ... He looks good (and) would like to play."

But Rodgers won't play, leaving Flynn to run Green Bay's offense. The third-year pro out of LSU threw for 177 yards and an interception in relief of Rodgers last Sunday, and wide receiver Donald Driver expressed confidence in Flynn.

"I think we had fun (this week)," Driver said Friday. "It didn't slow anything down. Everything was kept the same. The pace was like going with Aaron. You'd think you would have to nix some things and work some things out, but no. It was just like we don't miss a beat."

McCarthy echoed Driver's sentiments, telling Madison's The Big 1070 that Flynn impressed him with two good days of practice.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.