They have a prolific offense and have allowed the fewest points in the NFL. They boast a stable of talented receivers and the hottest quarterback in the league since Nov. 1. And with three weeks left in the season, the Green Bay Packers are in a world of trouble.
Aaron Rodgers suffered his second concussion of the season Sunday in Green Bay’s 7-3 loss to the Detroit Lions. His status going forward is uncertain. And the 8-5 Packers — the last team out in the NFC playoff race entering Sunday — may be following him out the door.
No team escapes a season unscathed, and the Packers have had their share of injury problems. Starting running back Ryan Grant, who rushed for 2,456 yards and scored 15 touchdown the past two seasons, tore a ligament in his right ankle in the first week of the season. Man-child tight end Jermichael Finley has been out since Week 5 after undergoing season-ending surgery on his injured right knee. Linebacker Nick Barnett hasn’t played since Week 4.
Now Rodgers, who entered the Detroit game having thrown 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions over the previous four weeks, is out with another concussion (he suffered his first one Week 5 against the Redskins). The Packers, using a patchwork crew of Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn, are 23rd in the NFL in rushing yards a game. They’ve survived the injury problems thanks to Rodgers, big-play threat Greg Jennings and a defense that has given up one score or fewer in four of their last six games.
Rodgers is the one player the Packers can’t do without. He has the fourth-highest passer rating in the league and is in the top five in touchdowns and passing yards. If he can’t go, Green Bay is done. But even if doctors clear Rodgers to play and even if he takes every snap the rest of the season, the Packers still might not make the playoffs. Their last three games are against the Patriots, Giants and Bears, who are a combined 28-10 entering play Monday night. This pile of injuries simply might be a mountain too tall to climb.
