Packers place Aaron Rodgers on injured reserve

The Packers announced Tuesday that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is headed to injured reserve for the second time this season.

Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone in Week 6 when he absorbed a vicious hit from Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr. The injury required surgery, and Rodgers reportedly had 13 screws and two plates inserted in the collarbone to repair it.

The team placed him on IR on Oct. 20, and he returned to practice six weeks later. According to the league’s rules for a player’s return from injured reserve, Rodgers wasn’t able to take the field until Week 15.

Backup Brett Hundley filled in for Rodgers, and he went 3-4 as the Packers’ starter. He’s thrown for 1,534 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

Rodgers did come back for the Packers’ loss to the Panthers. He went 26 of 45 for 290 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. The picks Rodgers threw were underthrown balls, and it looked like his arm strength wasn’t anywhere near what it was prior to injury.

Rodgers said he wasn’t happy with his performance.

“I obviously didn’t play very well,” Rodgers said via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

He took three sacks and seven hits from Carolina’s defense. After the game, head coach Mike McCarthy said that Rodgers was feeling it.

“Aaron Rodgers is sore — rightfully so,” McCarthy said. “He was hit too many times, took two big hits. So we’re working through that. So we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

McCarthy said the Packers would be watching the Falcons face the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football with interest. That game had direct postseason implications for the Packers.

The Falcons beat the Buccaneers, which mathematically eliminated the Packers from playoff contention. Now Rodgers’ season is officially over.

In a corresponding move, the Packers signed quarterback Joe Callahan to the active roster. Callahan is expected to be the backup, and the team will likely put Hundley back into the starting role.