Rodgers set to return Sunday for Packers

Dec 14, 2017 - 12:39 AM GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It didn't happen at 12:12 a.m. or p.m., as many predicted it would.

But it did take place on 12-12.

Yes, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers -- who wears No. 12 -- announced his return on Tuesday. And the mood inside Green Bay's headquarters rose dramatically in the next 24 hours.

Rodgers, who suffered a broken right collarbone on Oct. 15, received medical clearance to return for the Packers' game at Carolina Sunday. Rodgers underwent a bone density exam and CT scan Monday on his broken collarbone, and late Tuesday night, he announced in an Instagram message that he had been cleared.

"I really think it speaks to Aaron, what he's done through the rehab phase," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think like any injury there's thresholds you have to get over and the symptoms that each injury presents, he was able to clear each hurdle earlier than the norm. His rehab process was very fluid, very clean and it's put him in this position to get ready for Carolina."

Rodgers underwent surgery on Oct. 19 that required several plates and screws, and he was placed on injured reserve the following day. By all accounts, his recovery went as smoothly as the Packers could have hoped.

Packers team physician Dr. Pat McKenzie consulted with several medical experts Monday and Tuesday before clearing Rodgers to play late Tuesday night.

"Well, it was a group decision," Rodgers said. "We've talked about everything, and I'm confident knowing all the information. That's why I'm going to play."

Rodgers wouldn't give a percentage on how much the broken bone has healed, saying, "I'm not going to get into that. I'm cleared."

But Rodgers did say he has his strength and flexibility back and there is no muscular atrophy in the shoulder.

"The strength and the flexibility came back the quickest," Rodgers said. "It was just waiting on the bone to be ready to play."

Green Bay's final three opponents -- at Carolina, home vs. Minnesota and at Detroit -- are a combined 26-13. The Packers (7-6) would have to win their final three games and get some help along the way to earn a playoff spot.

But the return of Rodgers undoubtedly helps.

Green Bay averaged 27.4 points per game in the five games Rodgers started and finished. The Packers averaged just 19.7 points per game without Rodgers.

The Packers know Rodgers, a two-time MVP, might be a bit rusty. But they are expecting him to be close to the same player that won two MVPs and led the Packers to a championship in the 45th Super Bowl.

"It's great to have him back," Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson said. "He's the leader of the team, controls a lot of things on our offense, and his play on the field speaks for itself. It's great to have him back, great to have him healthy. I'm looking forward to it."

The Panthers certainly expect Rodgers to be at or near his best.

"Aaron Rodgers is one of those guys that probably really doesn't need a lot of practice," Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said. "And knowing Aaron Rodgers, he's probably been throwing the ball for four, five weeks already anyways. So, I mean, seriously, I'm just trying to be honest about how I feel who this young man is. I think he's one of the elite guys. We know he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I'm just being honest. I expect this guy to be on his game, and we have to approach it that way."

Rodgers also missed seven full games in 2013 when he broke his left collarbone. When he returned, he threw a last-second, fourth-down touchdown pass to Randall Cobb in Week 17 that lifted the Packers past Chicago and gave Green Bay the NFC North championship.

Other quarterbacks who have suffered similar injuries in recent years have had mixed results.

In 2015, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo broke his collarbone in a Week 2 win over Philadelphia. Romo missed seven games and wasn't the same player when he returned.

Romo threw five interceptions, just two touchdown passes and had a passer rating of 53.7 before breaking the collarbone again in a loss to Carolina.

"You're always chancing it when you come back," Romo said after he broke the collarbone for a second time. "The hard part is playing when you're trying not to get hurt, which is silly. You can't do that. We knew that was part of it. Collarbones happen like that all the time."

In 1998, Dallas' Troy Aikman broke his left collarbone in Week 2 and missed the next five games. Aikman had a passer rating above 100.0 in his first three games back and had a passer rating of 88.3 over the final nine games.

"The pain was enormous, opening up the left shoulder to throw, a very sharp pain that kept you from being able to effectively throw the football," Aikman recalled. "But once I was pain-free, I was playing. I wasn't aware of or worried about more risk."

Now, Rodgers is going to give it a go again. And all of Packer Nation can't wait to see what will happen next.

"I'm just going to bring the energy and enthusiasm that I always do to practice," Rodgers said. "Obviously, I think there's an expectation of the way I play on Sunday and how I'm going to play. I enjoy those expectations. I enjoy meeting those or exceeding those. That's what it means to be a leader in this locker room and the quarterback of this team.

"It's going out and performing and doing your job. Hopefully it gives a lift to some of the guys, but I'm not coming back to save this team. I'm coming back to play quarterback the way I know how to play it. Hopefully, we all raise the level of our play collectively and find a way to win these three games."

SERIES HISTORY: 14th regular-season meeting. Packers lead series, 8-5, and are 5-3 all-time in Carolina.

NOTES: OLB Clay Matthews has five sacks in the last three games. ... OLB Nick Perry, who missed last week's game with foot and shoulder injuries, practiced Wednesday. ... CB Demetri Goodson, who was activated from the injured reserve list last week but didn't play due to a hamstring injury, practiced Wednesday. ... CB Davon House (back, shoulder) did not practice and will be challenged to be ready by Sunday. ... ILB Jake Ryan did not practice due to an unknown injury. ... SS Josh Jones did not practice due to a personal matter.