GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers channeled a fictional prize fighter to describe how he felt after playing the Minnesota Vikings.
“If you’ve seen (the movie) ‘Rocky III,’ you know Clubber Lang has a prediction before the fight: ‘Pain,’” Rodgers said with a smile on Wednesday. “That’s kind of what it felt like.”
Rodgers said that he remained a “little sore” following the 29-29 tie against Minnesota last week when he played with a brace to protect his injured left knee.
It’s not the only pain that he felt.
With limited mobility, Rodgers was knocked around by the Vikings’ top defense for four sacks and nine quarterback hits.
Rodgers played well, though, and completed 30 of 42 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown. He even rushed three times for 8 yards, including a 7-yard scramble to convert a third-and-7 on the Packers’ first touchdown drive.
“The heat and the adrenaline definitely helped, but it’s just going to be something you’ve got to deal with for a while,” Rodgers said. “Take it week by week. It doesn’t seem like there’s a major setback at this point, so just being smart about it and trying to get ready to play Sunday.”
Rodgers didn’t practice on Wednesday.
Coming off a Sunday night victory over Chicago in Week 1 and playing 10 additional minutes against Minnesota in Week 2, coach Mike McCarthy scrapped practice in favor of a walk-through as his team began prep for the road game Sunday against the Washington Redskins.
“We’re pretty beat up coming off a night and then 4 2/3 quarters on Sunday. Just trying to be smart about it,” Rodgers said.
McCarthy wouldn’t commit to Rodgers practicing on Thursday, which is typically the Packers’ heaviest practice day of the week.
“We’re still in a day-by-day mode,” McCarthy said.
Rodgers, who acknowledged the injury could get worse before it gets better, practiced on Saturday before facing Minnesota. He would like to practice at least once this week to get ready for Washington.
“I’m going to need to see certain looks in the walkthroughs to replace those reps I may or not get in practice and try and get out there at least one day this week and feel good about the stuff we have moving on into Sunday,” Rodgers said.
MATTHEWS PENALTY
The NFL announced this week that it would use linebacker Clay Matthews’ roughing-the-passer penalty on Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins as part of its weekly teaching video provided to teams. A similar hit on Rodgers by Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks would also be part of the video.
The flag on Matthews overturned an interception by cornerback Jaire Alexander that could have allowed the Packers to run out the clock for a win.
“We haven’t changed anything with the way we’re coaching our players,” McCarthy said.
Rodgers, who suffered a broken collarbone following a hit by Minnesota’s Anthony Barr last season, said the league has gone too far in protecting quarterbacks.
“I think we enjoy the protection below the knee and above the shoulders, but I don’t know many quarterbacks who want those calls,” he said. “The one on me, I don’t think that’s roughing the passer, either.
Added Rodgers: “There’s a goal to limit these hits but they’re pretty obvious when you see them — you know, a guy picking somebody up and full weight on them. What do you say to Clay? His head is out of it. His hand is on the ground. That’s not roughing the passer. Same thing with Kendricks. What do you say to him on that?”
Rodgers said he did not get up from the turf after the hit from Kendricks looking for a penalty. He called himself a traditionalist.
“I’ve watched the game and loved the game for a long time, and some of the rules I think help,” Rodgers said, “but some of the rules maybe are going the wrong direction.”
Notes: RB Aaron Jones is back following a two-game suspension, but his “role will be secondary” to that of Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery, McCarthy said. … The team released CB Deate Burton to make room on the roster to activate Jones. … McCarthy did not expect CB Kevin King (groin) to play this week, though he did not think it would be a long-term issue.
