Aaron Rodgers expected to skip Packers mandatory minicamp

Last week, the Green Bay Packers dug their heels in regarding Aaron Rodgers’ future with the team. In his monthly Q&A on the team’s official website, Packers team president and CEO Mark Murphy reaffirmed their commitment to keeping Rodgers around in 2021, and maybe even beyond that.

“We remain committed to resolving things with Aaron and want him to be our quarterback in 2021 and beyond,” Murphy wrote, also noting—and some would argue, blaming Rodgers—that the fiasco has divided the fan base.

In essence, the Packers put the ball in Aaron Rodgers’ court.

And it appears Rodgers has emphatically dug his heels into his own position. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers quarterback is not expected to show up to mandatory minicamp, the most aggressive act from Rodgers to try and push through a trade this offseason.

Green Bay now has the option to fine Rodgers up to $93,085 total for missing the three days of practice, or let the transgression slide in order to try and smooth things over with the disgruntled quarterback. Rodgers has essentially already forfeited a $500,000 offseason workout bonus by skipping out on OTAs for the first time in his career, so the money may not matter much to him.

Like the Detroit Lions, the Packers begin mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, so we’ll know soon if Rodgers will show or not. Perhaps more importantly, if he doesn’t show, as expected, we’ll hear the team’s reaction to Rodgers skipping out. Ball is back in your court, Packers. What’s the next move?

UPDATE: The holdout is official: