The start of the opening “Sunday Night Football” game could not have gone worse for the Green Bay Packers. First, they were dominated by the Chicago Bears on both sides of the ball in the first quarter.
But then something much more damaging may have happened. Aaron Rodgers went down with an apparent leg injury, and did not immediately come back in the game.
On the play, Rodgers took a sack from Roy Robertson-Harris and his left leg appears to have bent awkwardly underneath the Packers quarterback. Rodgers attempted to walk the injury off initially, but appeared to be enough pain where he needed some extra time down the field.
Aaron Rodgers appears seriously hurt. But limps off field on his own pic.twitter.com/Egy6wdVtaQ
— Bears Barroom (@BearsBarroom) September 10, 2018
Eventually, he was able to walk off the field under his own power, but he spent considerable amount of time in the injury tent, and did not come back out when the Packers offense took the field. In fact, he had to be carted off to the locker room.
We don’t know Rodgers’ long-term status, but we’ll keep you updated as more news comes in.
UPDATE: Rodgers is officially “questionable” to return:
Aaron Rodgers QUESTIONABLE to return with knee injury. #Packers #Bears
— Arthur Arkush (@ArthurArkush) September 10, 2018
Former NFL doctor David J. Chao, who now frequently gives his real-time thoughts on football injuries, had this to say during his halftime periscope:
“I don’t see how this is an ACL tear for Aaron Rodgers, that’s the good news.”
UPDATE 2: Aaron Rodgers is reportedly “going to give it a try” according to NBC.
UPDATE 3: Rodgers returned to action for the first possession of the second half.