GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers doesn't feel the need to play in the preseason, but if the Green Bay Packers quarterback does play then he really wants to play.
Rodgers hasn't played a preseason snap since 2018 — he was supposed to play one game in the summer of 2019 until the plan got scrapped because of poor field conditions in Winnipeg — but the combination of a poor start to last season and breaking in new receivers and offensive linemen might be reason to do so this year. «I don't see any benefit to it,» Rodgers said Tuesday. «I definitely don't see any benefit to playing one series.
If we're going to play, we should play and play a quarter, a couple of series, two to three series. Just suiting up for four plays, to me, is a waste.» Coach Matt LaFleur has already said Rodgers won't play Friday in the preseason opener at San Francisco or the Week 2 game against the Saints, but he has not ruled him out of the preseason finale at Kansas City. «I'm not saying this to send a message to Matt; I've already told Matt the same thing,» Rodgers said of his preseason philosophy. «We'll see what happens when we get there.» The Packers were blown out in last year's regular-season opener 38-3 by the New Orleans Saints.
LaFleur said early in camp that it would «potentially» alter how he handles training camp and the preseason games this year. «I think you've got to learn from every situation you've been in,» LaFleur said. «At least it stimulates conversation.» Said Rodgers: «I think it's kind of a no-win situation to the outside of the building.