Rodgers plans to play vs. Bears after 'good news' on injured ribs
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he plans on playing Sunday against the Chicago Bears despite the rib injury he suffered in Week 12.
"We're not eliminated, (and) I got good news with the scans yesterday, so I plan on playing this week," Rodgers said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday.
Rodgers left Sunday's 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter and didn't return. The Packers originally announced that the reigning NFL MVP had sustained an oblique injury, but he later said it was a rib injury, adding he wants to keep playing this season "as long as we're mathematically alive."
"There was an earlier shot in the game that kind of rattled the ribcage, and I was trying to stretch some things out at halftime a little bit and realized it probably wasn't some sort of muscle injury," Rodgers said. "And it just got hit again in the third quarter. I was having a hard time breathing.
"I pride myself on not coming out of games, and I've played through a lot of different things over the years ... but I was in considerable pain, and I felt like I just couldn't move out there really much at all."
Third-year passer Jordan Love replaced Rodgers in the game.
The Packers visit the Bears in Week 13 looking to snap a two-game skid. At 4-8, Green Bay ranks third in the NFC North, one game ahead of Chicago.
"We're not eliminated," Rodgers said. "We got a chance to run the last five and see where we stand after that."
He added: "(Whether) we're 8-4, 4-8, 12-0, 0-12, I'd be wanting to suit up this week. And not just because it's Chicago, (it's) because that's what you do. When you're a player, you go out there, and if you can play, you play."
Rodgers has completed 64.8% of his passes while tossing 2,682 yards and 21 touchdowns against nine interceptions through 12 games this season.
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