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A20 SPORTS
Friday 15 december 2017
He’s back: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers preps to play Panthers

By GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The
Green Bay Packers stayed
afloat in the postseason
race while hoping for near-
ly two months that Aaron
Rodgers would return.
News that the two-time NFL
MVP was cleared medical-
ly to come back from a col-
larbone injury finally arrived
Tuesday night, coming a
bit later than coach Mike
McCarthy hoped — but
well worth the wait for the
playoff-hopeful Packers.
Rodgers is in line to start this
weekend against the Car-
olina Panthers.
“The strength and the
flexibility came back the
quickest,” Rodgers said af-
ter practice Wednesday.
“It was just waiting on the
bone to be ready to play.” In this Nov. 26, 2017, photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers watches warmups
That clearance finally before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh.
came on Tuesday night. Associated Press
He didn’t want to go into
detail about how much his So it’s back to a normal could have ended Rodg- at least seven wins chas- he has been before cam-
surgically repaired collar- week of preparation for ers’ season. ing Atlanta for the second eras, including pregame in
bone had healed. the quarterback after mak- The Packers (7-6) went 3-4 wild-card berth in the NFC. Pittsburgh before the 31-28
He’s aware of the risks. ing what McCarthy had with backup Brett Hundley The path to the playoffs re- loss to the Steelers on Nov.
“Well, we’ve talked about considered great progress starting to stay in the play- mains tough. But Rodgers’ 26.
everything, and I’m confi- in rehab since getting hurt off race, including a 27- return gives an emotional He returned to practice
dent knowing all the infor- against Minnesota on Oct. 21 victory in overtime last boost to a locker room that on what McCarthy called
mation. That’s why I’m go- 15. At the time, the Pack- week over Cleveland. They has already drawn confi- a “trial return” on Dec. 2,
ing to play,” Rodgers said. ers warned that the injury are one of four teams with dence from two straight and led the scout team
overtime victories. last week. The collarbone
“It’s great having him back, was scanned on Monday
but if the decision went the to determine he was ready
other way, it’s still status to return.
quo — we still have to win The Packers are known
these next three games,” for their conservative ap-
left tackle David Bakhtiari proach in dealing with in-
said. “But obviously having juries. Rodgers is known for
Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort) one of the greatest play- his competitiveness.
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Rodgers is eligible to be McCarthy said of the med-
LIVE POKER activated Friday, eight ical staff’s evaluation of
Rodgers.
weeks after initially going
on injured reserve. But the “You have to trust the peo-
GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS preparation has already ple, the expertise, the care
started. McCarthy said and we all understand the
there would be extra indi- importance of every play
1-2.....2-5......5-5 1-3.....2-5......5-5 vidual work in practice. coming back in this situ-
$100 HIGH HAND BONUSES EVERY HOUR “I feel confident I will be ation, especially Aaron’s
OVER $20,000 PER WEEK GIVEN OUT IN HIGH HAND BONUSES able to go out there and specific injury. ... We went
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play the way I’ve always
CRAPS played, but I’ve been off this is where we are today.”
for seven games and been
It did make for a late Tues-
ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS out for a while,” Rodgers day night of preparation
said. “So it’s going to take for the coaching staff be-
getting out there, getting fore McCarthy was finally
SPORTSBOOK that first pass, getting that able to return home.
“I have Elf on the Shelf re-
first hit, and I’ll probably
LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS settle in.” sponsibilities and I didn’t
THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS Rodgers, though, has get to it (until) midnight last
looked good throwing the
night,” the coach joked.q
ball in brief periods when