3. Aaron Rodgers vs rust
Last season, when Rodgers broke his collarbone, the season went up in flames. The Packers brought him back against the Panthers when they had an outside chance of making the playoffs. Rodgers looked very rusty, as he threw three interceptions on the day, before he was taken out and shut down for the remainder of the season. While Rodgers has looked good in practice so far, it’s only been practice.
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He hasn’t played at home since last year against the Cincinnati Bengals, so the fans will definitely welcome him back. However, what product should the fans expect to see?
It’s very possible Rodgers has knocked off the rust and he’s good to go for the season. It’s also possible all that time off will have slowed him some. He’s still the player that has won two MVP’s in his career, but he may not be quite to that level yet.
Rodgers will have to have his head on a swivel in case David Bakhtiari ends up not playing. While those snaps could be crucial if he is rusty, no amount of rust would be worth a long-term injury. Having Rodgers start the season strong will be key with a young defense supporting him. If he’s playing slow and expecting the defense to carry him, they just might not be to that level yet. However, if this extra step puts him in midseason form, then it’s well worth it.