Packers should rest starters in final two games of the season

The Green Bay Packers should sit a number of players for the final two games of the regular season.

With two games left of the regular season but nothing to play for, the Packers should sit a number of key starters.

In the Packers’ season-ending defeat to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, they were hit with a few injuries, particularly on offense.

According to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Aaron Rodgers was dealing with a groin injury throughout the second half. It was clear that something was bothering him.

Even if Rodgers feels 100 percent next week, there’s no reason to risk making the injury worse.

There’s a good chance the Packers will be without Aaron Jones for the remainder of the season. Jones left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the injury could be a sprained MCL.

Davante Adams also briefly left the game due to an injury but he quickly returned.

The Packers are entering an offseason of change that will see a new head coach hired, and likely many changes to the staff.

The team’s Super Bowl dreams for 2018 are gone and the focus should now switch to the following season. That means not risking long-term injuries to Rodgers or any of the key starters.

While unlikely, an injury in the final two games could cause a player to miss some of the offseason, or worse, the start of the 2019 season. Playing in the final two games isn’t worth losing a starter for part of the offseason when they’ll be learning a new scheme under a new coach.

With Green Bay officially eliminated from contention, it’s time to forget about 2018 and focus on the new year. That means sitting Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Aaron Jones and others in the final two games against the Jets and Lions.