What you should expect in Aaron Rodgers’ return to Packers from broken collarbone

The Packers aren’t out of the playoff hunt yet, and their chances at a postseason bid just got a whole lot better. Aaron Rodgers is preparing to be back on the field for the Packers on Sunday for the first time since he fractured his collarbone in Week 6.

Rodgers played just eight snaps against the Vikings before taking a crushing hit from linebacker Anthony Barr. He later underwent surgery for a broken collarbone and was placed on injured reserve. The Packers brought him back from IR after the standard eight weeks and Rodgers was officially cleared to return Tuesday night.

Now he’s ready to be back in the starting lineup, head coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday:

What does this mean for the Packers? The fact that they’ll likely start him means that Rodgers is healthy enough to play. That’s very bad news for everyone left on Green Bay’s schedule and all of the NFC teams fighting for a playoff bid.

The Packers are 7-6 after backup Brett Hundley led the team to two straight overtime wins: against the Bucs in Week 13 and against the Browns in Week 14. They’re currently outside of the playoff picture looking in, and trail the Lions and Seahawks among the teams trying to sneak back in.

They’ve got a chance to make it as long as they win out, but their remaining schedule far from a cakewalk: at the Panthers, home against the Vikings, and at the Lions.

If anyone can get Green Bay there, though, it’s Rodgers.

Last season, the Packers were 4-6 heading into Week 12. Their playoff prospects looked slim.

Then Rodgers led the Packers to six straight wins to finish the year 10-6. The Packers rolled over the Giants in the wild card round and beat the Cowboys in an instant classic of a tight divisional game. The only thing that could have slowed down this Packers team last season was running into the buzzsaw that was the 2016 Atlanta Falcons.

With Rodgers back on the field, the Packers’ chances at securing a playoff bid skyrocket.

Should we expect to see the same old Rodgers? McCarthy doesn’t expect that Rodgers will change how he plays. “You have to play your game,” he said Wednesday.

There’s also precedent for Rodgers returning from this same injury and leading his team to a playoff berth. Four years ago, Rodgers broken his collarbone and missed the next seven games. He returned for Green Bay’s season finale against the Bears and engineered a last-minute touchdown drive to lead the Packers to a win and the NFC North title.

The Panthers have one of the best defenses in the league and have sacked quarterbacks 40 times so far this season. The biggest challenge won’t be for Rodgers, but for the Green Bay offensive line, who will have to keep the quarterback from taking unnecessary hits.

But Carolina head coach Ron Rivera won’t be fooled into think Rodgers could be rusty:

We won’t know for sure until Rodgers takes the field, but even if he’s a little limited, it’s a safe bet that he’ll still look like Aaron Rodgers.