Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is scheduled to practice on Saturday barring any setbacks beforehand.
Rodgers, 45 days removed from surgery to repair his broken right collarbone, is making incredible strides in his attempt to return to the field for the Packers’ stretch run.
“We’re looking tomorrow to potentially practice him in a trial return,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday (h/t ESPN).
“That’s the outlook. We’ll determine that tomorrow after his work today.”
“He’s doing well,” Packers quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt said earlier in the week.
“You saw him throwing out there in Pittsburgh — he’s doing well. He’s getting healthy, and he’s following right along in rehab. He’s probably ahead of the curve a little bit, but there’s really not anything to talk about until there’s something to talk about.”
The Packers are currently 5-6 but they play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the winless Cleveland Browns over the next two weeks, so having Rodgers back could help push the Packers towards a playoff berth.
“I think it’s a big deal when you see your leader out there,” McCarthy said on a Rodgers return.
“Yeah, definitely. The guys have been able to watch him work here the last couple weeks. He’s been going through the fundamental part of it. I think you also have to be in tune with the trial return mode, which every player as you work through their protocol and procedure specifics of how they’re coming back from their specific injuries. But, yeah, that’d be great to have him out there.”
