While many people want to talk about Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers' injury, when he appeared on his weekly radio spot on ESPN Milwaukee, the signal caller first had some thanks he wanted to give to Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker prior to updating his fans on his health.
Tucker hit a 61-yard game-winning field goal over the Packers' division rival Detroit Lions on Monday night, putting Rodgers and the Packers in position to make the playoffs if they can win their last two remaining games.
"I'd like to thank Justin Tucker off the top here for his performance last night," Rodgers said to open his ESPN Milwaukee radio show, according to ESPN.com. "Unbelievable. That 61-yarder was amazing. I didn't quite get the three previous plays, but wow."
The Packers (7-6-1) will look to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8) this week and division rival Chicago Bears (8-6-0) in Week 17, and if they do so they can win the NFC North. The Lions fell to 7-7-0 and dropped to third place in the NFC North with the loss.
"It's amazing that we're sitting here 7-6-1 with a chance to win two and be in [the playoffs]," Rodgers said per ESPN.
Rodgers was relatively mum on his status for the Week 16 matchup Sunday against the Steelers at Lambeau Field but said he planned to practice on Wednesday while hoping to avoid furthering the injury or experiencing any setbacks as he attempts to return from his collarbone injury.
Rodgers took snaps at practice with starters last week during practice for the first time since sustaining the injury on Nov. 4 but he still hasn't been cleared for in-game action and the contact that comes with it. Now that the Packers are very much in the conversation for winning the NFC North after quarterback Matt Flynn and the team came from behind to defeat the Dallas Cowboys last week and were aided by the Lions loss, Rodgers doesn't believe it changes his status.
"I don't think it really influences my thought process any more than playing last week and wanting to be out there last week did," Rodgers said via ESPN. "I felt good in practice, and a decision was made about my status that was made collectively but more on an organizational level, which I understood. Doesn't mean I was happy about it, but understood."
Prior to the injury, Rodgers was 168-for-251 (66.9%) for 2,218 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. Rodgers has survived rumors of being shut down for the season, but it remains to be seen if he'll return for Week 16.
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