Aaron Rodgers tests positive for COVID-19, out for Sunday's matchup with Kansas City
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is out for Sunday's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs after Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the NFL considers Rodgers unvaccinated, meaning he would be sidelined for at least 10 days according to NFL and NFL Players' Association protocols.
"The reason that we know Aaron Rodgers is out for Sunday is, as sources have told us, he is unvaccinated, which means he is out for a minimum of 10 days, assuming he has no symptoms," Rapoport said.
Back in August, Rodgers was asked by reporters if he was vaccinated, and the reigning league MVP responded, "Yeah, I've been immunized."
The quarterback petitioned the league to have an alternative treatment that he received before returning to the Packers be considered equivalent to having taken one of the approved vaccinations, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky, but the league ruled he would fall under the unvaccinated category.
During his news conference on Wednesday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Rodgers was put on the COVID-19/reserve list but remained mum on additional details.
Week 9 will represent the second consecutive week that the Packers are without one of their superstars due to a positive COVID-19 result, after wide receiver Davante Adams was unavailable during Green Bay's Week 8 victory over Arizona.
Colin Cowherd of "The Herd" offered his thoughts on the Rodgers news Wednesday.
"This was always a risk/reward situation," Cowherd said. "What if this had happened before a playoff game? Are you kidding me? This would be outrageous."
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Colin Cowherd delves into the Aaron Rodgers situation after the QB was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list.
As for why Rodgers would be cagey about his status in the first place, Nick Wright said he feels the quarterback wanted to avoid dealing with backlash from his decision.
Here is what the "First Things First" host had to say Thursday:
With Rodgers out, Jordan Love, the Packers' first-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, will make his first-ever NFL start at Kansas City (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App).
Green Bay picked Love with the 26th pick in the 2020 draft, presumably as the heir apparent for Rodgers, who is now 37.
Love spent three years at Utah State, where he was dominant as a sophomore –– 3,567 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions –– but struggled in his junior year, throwing for 3,402 yards, 20 TDs and 17 picks.
After completing five passes on seven attempts in garbage time against New Orleans in Week 1, Love finally gets his chance to start and show Green Bay fans why the franchise spent a first-round pick on his talents, which Shannon Sharpe pointed out on Wednesday's "Undisputed," saying with Adams back, Love should be able to perform well against a below-average Chiefs defense.
"The Packers moved up in the draft to select Jordan Love. Ticked off Aaron Rodgers. Now you get an opportunity to see what you potentially could have, on the road. … Kansas City don't have a shut-you-down, lights-out defense. … They have enough weapons offensively that they should be fine."
Skip Bayless reacted similarly to Love stepping in for Rodgers, saying that before Rodgers' MVP campaign last season, the end was in sight for the future Hall of Famer, which is why the Packers opted to move up for Love in the draft.
In terms of backing up Love come Sunday, it looks like the Packers will bring in another veteran to fit that bill: Blake Bortles.
This is a developing story.