Packers’ Aaron Rodgers admits playing with broken thumb

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The mystery behind Aaron Rodgers’ right thumb has finally been solved.

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After weeks of downplaying the apparent discomfort of his thick fingers on his throwing hand on the field, the Green Bay Packers quarterback told a local reporter the truth Wednesday: He played with a broken thumb. ing.

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Rogers, who will turn 39 in nine days, confirmed the injury to members of the media, saying he injured his finger first on the final play of Green Bay’s 27-22 loss to the New York Giants in London in Week 5. . A five-game skid that equaled Rodgers’ longest as an NFL starter.

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“I think I’ve had the worst injury I’ve ever played,” Rodgers said on the same day the Packers practiced for the first time since Thursday’s 4-7 home loss to the Tennessee Titans. “It’s definitely a challenge, but the rest days helped. I feel better this week.”

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In recent weeks, Rodgers has referred to the thumping thumb when speaking to reporters without divulging details of the fracture, but on Wednesday he tried to avoid deliberately using the injury as an excuse to play. denied that.

“I think it’s true,” said Rogers. “My thumb hurt even worse in the Dallas game[week 10, the game he won 31-28 in overtime for the Packers]so I put the ball where I wanted it.”

Before the injury, the Packers went 3-2, won three league MVPs, had eight touchdowns, three interceptions and completed 67.9% of passes like Rodgers with a 95.8 passer rating. .

Since Week 6, when Rodgers began playing for Bumsum, Rodgers has completed just over 62% of his throws with 11 touchdowns and four picks for a 91.1 rating.

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More importantly, the Packers are 1-5 in that stretch and have scored 20 or more points only twice. And what has recently raised eyebrows is Rogers’ occasional and uncharacteristic lack of precision.

He made only 8 of 16 passes in the fourth quarter against Tennessee last week, but he was adamant that he would not blame what he tried to call a persistent injury.

“One in 100 people are not on the right track,” says Rodgers.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur has already lost as many games this season as he has in the last two years combined.

“I hope it helps his thumb,” LaFleur said Wednesday.

The Packers, who are third in the NFC North and 4.5 games behind Minnesota at 8-2 in the division, visited the NFL-best 9-1 Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night following a major division road game against Chicago. increase. 13 week old bear.