Aaron Rodgers injury: Packers QB will start Week 17 with playoffs on the line

“Aaron came through the practice, everything OK,” head coach Mike McCarthy told the team’s official site on Friday. “He feels good today. He’s progressing forward.”

Rodgers took about 50 to 60 percent of the offensive reps in practice on Thursday, the same day it was revealed that he has a slight tear in his calf muscle. He’s apparently no worse for the wear.

“We’ve done our due diligence, we’ve gone through all the evaluations and we feel Aaron is ready to play,” McCarthy said a press conference Friday.

“He’s ready to play. He’s been throwing the ball very well going on three weeks. He’s been working his feet, working his conditioning, getting ready for this moment and that moment’s here.”

Rodgers noted during the show that the broken collarbone he suffered over seven weeks ago has not healed as quickly as he expected.

“I thought as of last week there’d be a lot more healing that would have gone on,” Rodgers said. “Learned a lot about the clavicle and the kind of blood flow or lack of that it gets as being a reason it didn’t look as good as we all wanted it last week.”

UPDATE: Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that Aaron Rodgers has not been cleared by team doctors and will not play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

“He is not medically cleared, that is the case today,” McCarthy said during a Friday afternoon press conference. “As an organization, we don’t feel like this is the right time for him to play.”

• Expert picks for Week 15 | NFL Power Rankings: Broncos back on top

• Breaking Madden: Tony Gonzalez, cranky old man of destruction

• NFL Power Rankings: Broncos retake the lead

• Tony Romo is not the Cowboys’ problem’

Coach Mike McCarthy talked about the injury and how Rodgers is progressing on Monday, per the piece:

Before Rodgers was injured, he threw for 2,218 yards and 15 touchdowns on a 66.9 completion percentage.

“Aaron wants to play,” McCarthy said. “It’s a medical situation, he has a clear understanding of where he is as far as the process of getting back on the field. He feels good, we’ll see what he can do tomorrow.”

The good news for Packers fans is McCarthy said he has no plans of shutting Rodgers down, making it likely we could see him back on the field again at some point in 2013. Whether or not that will be this Sunday remains unknown.

Before he was injured, Rodgers was having another terrific season. The former California Golden Bear threw for 2,218 yards and 15 touchdowns against four interceptions.

• Debrief: How I learned to love the Jaguars and Browns

• NFL Week 13 expert picks | 3 teams can clinch playoff spot

• Mike Tomlin and the foot of infamy

• Kelly: Long live the read option

• NFL power rankings: Patriots push, Seahawks still on top

“I haven’t given up hope on playing any week,” Rodgers said. “It depends on how I heal and depends on what the next x-ray looks like. Obviously, this week is probably not going to happen -- not going to happen.”

The Packers signed free agent Matt Flynn on Tuesday, returning him to a team where he served four seasons as Rodgers’ backup. He will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Tolzien against the Vikings.

He will now try to hold the fort down until the All-Pro Rodgers can return, just 10 weeks after Tolzien was released by the 49ers.

• NFL Week 10 picks: Bettors over bullies | What to watch Sunday

Losing Rodgers is a critical blow to the organization, but injury happened at the best possible time. The next three games are against teams with a combined 7-17 record this season, and if Rodgers rehabilitation can be expedited there’s a chance the Packers can limp through the next three games and still be prepared for their difficult close to the season.

The two week difference between Rodgers’ earliest and latest return is of vital importance, and will be something to watch moving forward.