Multiple teams think the Packers should have to release Aaron Rodgers because they violated a league rule regarding the quarterback’s eligibility to be placed on IR.
Multiple teams complained to the NFL last week that the Packers violated the rules regarding players who are eligible to be placed on injured reserve — and Green Bay should have to release quarterback Aaron Rodgers as a result, league sources told ESPN.
NFL rules stipulate that a player needs to have suffered a new injury that would sideline him at least six weeks to be placed on injured reserve and, if that is not the case, the team is obligated to release the player once he is healthy.
Editor’s Picks Meaningless or not, Packers’ shutout loss does little to save face in lost year
The Packers had nothing riding on Saturday’s loss to the Vikings, but that doesn’t make the shutout loss to Minnesota any less disconcerting.
Rodgers played last Sunday against Carolina, came out of the game “sore” in the words of Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.
But Green Bay did not announce a decision about Rodgers’ status until Tuesday, after the Packers had been eliminated from a potential postseason spot, when the quarterback was placed on IR.
Had the Falcons lost to the Buccaneers on Monday night, keeping alive Green Bay’s playoff chances, it’s possible Rodgers could have played Saturday night against the Vikings. But the Packers opted to shut him down, which teams complained was a violation of NFL rules.
It is not believed that Rodgers suffered any type of new injury last Sunday against Carolina. If Rodgers didn’t suffer a new injury but was placed back on IR anyway, NFL rules stipulate that the Packers would have to release him — which nobody expects to happen. It is why multiple teams were bothered last week and raised the issue. Teams wanted to know why the Packers were being granted immunity.
The NFL referred all inquiries about the situation to the Packers, who have declined comment.
But one source said Rogers wasn’t going to be medically cleared to play in Green Bay’s game, and the Packers knew he wasn’t 100 percent.
Still, not gaining medical clearance and being placed on injured reserve are two different things — which is what drew the ire of multiple teams around the league.
Rodgers was placed on IR and missed seven games after suffering a broken right collar bone in Green Bay’s first game against Minnesota on Oct. 15. He was activated last week and returned for last Sunday’s loss to the Panthers, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions — the first time he has been picked off that many times in a game since 2009.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.
