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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – Still no answers on A-Rod.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is uncertain for Sunday's Minnesota.
Rodgers, who missed the end of the first half of the first week's win over Chicago with a wounded left knee, did not practice Wednesday and Thursday and would not practice Friday.
"Aaron is improving," said coach Mike McCarthy on Friday. "I would say that it feels better than at the beginning of the week. (Saturday) practice will be a very big indicator. … nothing has changed. It is clearly day-to-day. Hopefully, he will be able to do some work (Saturday).
Even if Rodgers does not train on Saturday, he could play Sunday.
"You'd like to leave the field on Saturday and have your plan set, but that's the National Football League, things are happening," McCarthy said. "We'll be ready for anything, but I know he wants to play."
Rodgers was injured in a sack by Roy Robertson-Harris with about nine minutes to play in the first period against Chicago. He was transported to the locker room for review, returned early in the third quarter and led the Packers to a 20-0 deficit with 273 yards and three touchdowns in the second period.
"His competitive nature takes over," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said Thursday. "He obviously has an exceptional talent. You do not have to be an expert to understand this. But I think the thing that separates a lot of good players from good players in this league is that competitive spirit. You have certainly seen this fully in the second half. Some of the things that he did were very special.
After Sunday's game, Rodgers compared his mobility to that of a "statue". One of Rodgers' greatest assets is his ability to move around the pocket and extend games out of pocket. Any lack of mobility could play in favor of a Vikings defense that led the NFL to authorized points last season and intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo of San Francisco three times in Week 1.
"There are two types of mobility," Rodgers said Wednesday. "In the pocket, the subtle movements allow you to have a clean launch point, then there is a movement that allows you to get out of the pocket, allowing you to extend games and take pictures. And we'll see what kind of mobility I'm allowed to have. "
If Rodgers can not play, DeShone Kizer would start. Kizer had the worst pass of the NFL and lost all 15 starts as a rookie with Cleveland last season. The Packers acquired him in an off-season trade, and he beat Brett Hundley, who made 3-6 in nine starts last season with Rodgers put away by a broken collarbone. In his first two series against Chicago, Kizer lost a fumble and kicked an interception that was returned to him for a touchdown.
"I obviously think we have the best league player in our locker room," Kizer said of Rodgers. "If he's ready to leave, I can not wait to encourage him and do everything I can to help him. It's also my duty and my job to make sure I'm ready to leave just in case it is not.
NOTES: Receiver Davante Adams (shoulder) and linebacker Oren Burks (shoulder) are also questionable. Security Josh Jones (ankle) will miss a second consecutive game.
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