Green Bay Packers 2018 roster review: Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers’ injury was yet another reminder of just how important he is to the Green Bay Packers.
The Philadelphia Eagles won three playoff games, including a Super Bowl against the Tom Brady-led Patriots, with a backup quarterback. The Green Bay Packers could barely survive the winless-Browns without their superstar passer.
Let’s take a look back at Aaron Rodgers‘ injury-hit 2017, while also looking ahead to next season.
Season in review
Rodgers receives an ‘incomplete’ grade for the 2017 season, as he suited up in just seven games. Had he stayed healthy, it’s fair to believe Rodgers would have been firmly in the MVP race.
In the six games he started and finished, the Packers went 4-2. That included an impressive victory on the road at Dallas.
Not including the Vikings game he left early due to injury, Rodgers threw for 1,657 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Three of those picks came in his return game at Carolina. Based on those six games alone, Rodgers was on pace for 4,418 yards, 43 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
It’s hard to believe he would have continued such a high average of interceptions, though. His highest interception total was 13 in 2008, his first season as the Packers’ starting quarterback.
In 2013 Rodgers was able to return from a broken collarbone to guide the Packers into the playoffs. History didn’t repeat itself this time, and 2017 will always be considered a lost season due to injury.
Anthony Barr‘s hit on Rodgers led to the Packers’ first playoff-less season in almost a decade, a general manager transition, a switch at both defensive and offensive coordinator, a handful of other coaching changes and a major shakeup the front office structure.
Let’s just hope Rodgers stays healthy next year.
Looking ahead to 2018 season
As long as Rodgers is fully healthy, he’ll be among the frontrunners for the league MVP award in 2018. He’ll make the Packers playoff contenders and give them a good chance of winning a fifth Lombardi Trophy, the second of his career.
If he gets hurt, expect more of the same. Forget Nick Foles‘ heroics in Philadelphia, it’ll take more than one offseason to evolve the Packers’ roster into one that can win a championship without its superstar quarterback.
At some point this offseason the two-time MVP is likely to land a lucrative long-term extension, making him the league’s highest paid player once again.
Rodgers’ collarbone will be fully healed by the spring, if it isn’t already, and he’ll be ready to go in Week 1.
Next: Packers: 12 players that need to go this offseason
Rodgers is the key to Green Bay’s title hopes, and his return will make the Packers contenders.