Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in the midst of the NFL MVP race and helping push his team towards the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But if Rodgers wants to earn another MVP and hoist the Lombardi Trophy, he’ll have to play through pain.
When Rodgers returned from his COVID-caused absence, the All-Pro quarterback landed on the NFL injury report with a toe injury. After rampant speculation regarding the exact nature of the injury, the reigning NFL MVP revealed he is playing through a fractured pinkie toe.
Originally, Green Bay hoped the bye week would help resolve some of the lingering pain in the toe. After deciding not to undergo surgery, putting it off until the offseason. But it’s clear the issue with his plant foot isn’t going away anytime soon.
- Aaron Rodgers stats (2021): 2,878 passing yards, 23-4 TD-INT ratio, 55.2% completion rate, 105.5 passer rating
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rodgers’ toe injury is expected to last for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. The decision to avoid surgery is reportedly because it would have required placing a pin in the pinkie toe, which could cause problems for the future Hall of Famer.
The injury hasn’t greatly impacted Rodgers in his past two games. Against the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams, the 38-year-old quarterback racked up 692 passing yards with seven total touchdowns and a 119.2 passer rating.
Dealing with the pain might also be a little easier for Rodgers after Sunday, with a win clinching the NFC North title for Green Bay. If they finish the regular season with the same record as the Arizona Cardinals, the Packers earn the first-round bye due to their head-to-head win over Arizona.