While Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took some second-team reps at practice on Wednesday, he still hasn't been medically cleared from a collarbone injury he sustained in early November and it appears as though he is doubtful for the Week 16 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
According to CBS Sports, even as the Packers (7-6-1) control their own fate and can win the NFC North if they defeat the Steelers and then their division rival Chicago Bears in the regular-season finale next week, Rodgers still hasn't been cleared to play.
"He's doing better," coach Mike McCarthy told the team's website after practice. "He's still not been cleared by the medical staff. He threw the ball extremely well. He looked sharp. He's getting better."
McCarthy implied that there may not be a decision made until Friday on Rodgers' status which is similar to what happened last week when the team ultimately decided on Friday to go with Matt Flynn in what was eventually a comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys last week.
"We're going to take a similar process to last week," McCarthy told the site.
The Packers were 5-2 when Rodgers was hampered by the injury on Nov. 4 against the Bears and have gone 2-4-1 since then. If Rodgers can't take his place under center, it will be the seventh game in a row that the Packers' best player is forced to miss since sustaining the collarbone injury.
With a bleak outlook casted on the Packers season just a few weeks ago, multiple reports indicated that the Packers toyed with the idea of shutting down the quarterback, but with the NFC North in clear reach for Green Bay, the team would like to get him back as soon as he is medically cleared to take the contact that comes along with NFL games.
Rodgers was 168-for-251 (66.9%) for 2,218 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions before the injury.
While Rodgers may be cleared Friday, all indications point to the fact that Flynn will likely take the reins to the offense to make his fifth start this season when the Packers host the Steelers Sunday afternoon.
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