Green Bay Packers quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, left, and Matt Flynn, center, sit on the bench during the third quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Indiana on Aug. 26, 2011. Flynn, now a free agent, has been backing up Rodgers as a quarterback for the packers for several years.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play in Sunday’s winner-takes-all NFC North division championship, adding to an already dramatic rivalry game against the Chicago Bears.
Coach Mike McCarthy made the announcement Thursday when Rodgers returned to the field as a full participant for the first time in more than seven weeks, CBS reports.
Rodgers hasn’t played since he fractured his collarbone when he was sacked in a game against the Bears on Nov. 4. The Packers have since mustered a 2-4-1 record without their starting quarterback. But Rodgers’ return gives the Packers a reprieve to make up for a struggling season — the Packers were 5-2 before Rodgers’ injury.
The Bears, meanwhile, missed an opportunity last week to clinch the division when they lost in a 54-11 blowout against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Sunday is more than just a rivalry game for both teams, who will go head-to-head for the wildcard spot in this year’s playoffs as the NFC North champion.
Elsewhere around the NFL, it’s up in the air whether Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will play in week 17, according to CBS. Coach Jason Garrett said Romo wouldn’t practice Thursday, but he would determine Friday whether Romo will play against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday.