TAMPA - How badly quarterback Aaron Rodgers has injured his shoulder will probably be known on Monday, but it was certainly a good sign he was able to return to Sunday's game after missing one series.
Rodgers hurt his throwing shoulder on a third-quarter scramble, at the end of which he reached the ball out while being tackled, to try to get the first down. The impact of the ball slamming the ground as Rodgers went down made the quarterback think he may have dislocated the shoulder.
But initially there wasn't much time to figure it out. Two plays into Tampa Bay's next series, with Rodgers getting looked at for the first time, the Packers got an interception. Rodgers went right back out and promptly threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings to pull the Packers within 20-14.
Rodgers was clearly in pain, though, as he came off the field after that throw. He tried to get his arm loose on the bench, but said throwing caused "intense pain," and he came out of the game.
"I tried to throw on the sidelines and just couldn't do it," Rodgers said. "So the doctor sat me down."
By the time the Packers got the ball back on offense, they had taken the lead 21-20, and rookie quarterback Matt Flynn was sent out to protect it.
Flynn didn't get much of a chance, though. Offensive lineman Allen Barbre, lining up as an extra tight end, was called for a false start before the first snap, moving the offense back to its own 15. After a run by Ryan Grant gained 2 yards, Flynn threw behind Jennings on a slant pattern, and then he handed off to Brandon Jackson on third-and-long.
"That's coach's decision," Flynn said of the running play on third-and-13. "He has to determine feel of the game, determine what he thinks the defense is going to be running, determine what he feels we can do.
"It was a tough situation. We got in a bad hole with that penalty on first down. You don't practice those long plays that much backed up."
After the Bucs kicked a field goal for a 23-21 lead on their next possession, Rodgers went over to Flynn and told him he was going back into the game.
"When they went down and scored the field goal, as bad as it hurt I just wanted to try and give it one more go," Rodgers said.
But that valiant attempt didn't last long, either. On second down, Rodgers was drilled in the blind side by unblocked defensive end Greg White, and his throw was intercepted by Gaines Adams, setting up Tampa Bay's final touchdown.
Flynn went back in to finish the game, completing a pair of short passes but throwing incomplete on fourth down with just under a minute left. He finished 2-of-5 for 6 yards in his first NFL action.
{sportsad300}As for whether Flynn needs to be ready for more action this week, an update on Rodgers should be available on Monday.
"(Team doctor) Pat McKenzie really hasn't had a chance to put him through a thorough examination," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said.
Rodgers knows the decision may not be entirely up to him, but he's going to do whatever he can to play next week against Atlanta.
"If there's any chance I can play and be close to the level of performance I expect to be at, then I'm going to go," Rodgers said.
His teammates certainly expect nothing less from their leader.
"Aaron is our guy so we definitely want to see him up," Jennings said. "I'm pretty sure he's going to do everything he can to be out there."
