On Wednesday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed a practice session with the Green Bay Packers, causing fans to worry that he might not be able to play for the team in its upcoming match against the Chicago Bears. But, as promised by Rodgers, he intends to play through the pain on Sunday.
Rodgers strained his right calf muscle during the Packers' match against the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday. Although Green Bay still has backup quarterback Brett Hundley, putting him in to replace Rodgers would be a risky move for the team especially since they are dangerously hanging on to a playoff contention.
But, as noted by Rodgers earlier this week, he still intends to play on Sunday even if his calf muscle will still be bothering him.
"It'll be about pain management on Sunday, but the good thing is I'll be out there," he said according to ESPN. "I'll be out there and ready."
"I've dealt with a lot of injuries over the years, and you just learn about pain management and how to keep yourself in the best shape to play on Sunday, and then playing with pain," he added.
The Packers' decision to keep Rodgers out of practice this week was probably a cautionary move to prevent further straining his condition. After all, on Sunday, he and the Packers will be playing in very cold weather, an element that could affect the quarterback's tender calf muscle, The Washington Post reported.
As for the Bears, the upcoming game will probably no longer have a bearing on them especially since they're playoff hopes are not looking to good this season. With a current record of 3-10, there's no chance that they'll make it to the postseason. Aside from going up against the Packers, they'll also face off against the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings in their final games.
Aside from saying goodbye to their playoff dreams, another source of frustration for the Bears is Rodgers. For years now, the rivalry between the Packers and Bears have been brewing.
Originally, the Chicago franchise though they they'll be able to gain an edge over Green Bay after Brett Favre left the team. However, they did not expect that Rodgers would be an effective quarterback.
"He never looked like he was off to me," Vic Fangio, the Bears' defensive coordinator said according to CSN Chicago. "He's a complete quarterback. He's got a big arm. He's very accurate. He anticipates things well."
