Aaron Rodgers To Start vs Chicago Bears in Week 17
Nov 10, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Green Bay Packers fan holds up an Aaron Rodgers sign during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field. Philadelphia won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers fans are getting their Christmas wish – Aaron Rodgers is set to start for the Packers against the Chicago Bears in the Week 17 win or go home matchup.
McCarthy: We're preparing for the Chicago Bears with Aaron Rodgers as our starting quarterback. #Packers
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 26, 2013
Rodgers has been sidelined with a broken collarbone that he suffered against the Bears back in Week 9. Second year defensive end Shea McClellin sacked Rodgers on the first series of the game and Rodgers has been sidelined since.
The Packers have been playing it safe with Rodgers the last few weeks, but in a must-win game to clinch the NFC North and a playoff berth at stake, they’ll roll him out there against the Bears Sunday afternoon. This is contrary to multiple reports that claimed that Rodgers was not as close to being ready as they had let on.
The winner of Sunday’s game will claim the NFC North championship and earn a home game next weekend as either the #3 of the #4 seed in the NFC playoffs. Despite a poor performance last week, Jay Cutler is expected to start for the Bears.
For the Packers, Clay Matthews has been ruled OUT for Sunday after re-injuring his thumb, but Randall Cobb might also return. Eddie Lacy’s status is still uncertain.