The Last Dance gets tripped up yet again with a ton of bricks dropping today with the news of QB Aaron Rodgers testing positive for COVID, resulting in the revelation that he will not be active against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday. This comes as the team deals with several injuries to key players. Despite that, the Packers have managed to find themselves 7-1 with a playoff spot all but certain.
According to Ian Rapoport, Rodgers is unvaccinated:
#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is unvaccinated, per me and @MikeGarafolo. That’s why he’s out for Sunday vs. the #Chiefs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2021
There is, of course, no official confirmation of his vaccination status and coach LaFleur declined to discuss it when questioned. Rodgers has gone on record describing himself as “immunized” to the virus. This is sometimes how those who have previously contracted the virus describe themselves as they have previously produced antibodies for it. However, this protection fades quickly — but we are not here to discuss that.
As a reporter, I failed you as our readers, listeners, followers. His choice of the word "immunized" in response to @ByRyanWood's direct question about being "vaccinated" should have been more closely scrutinized. I was there. I can only speak for myself, and I am sorry. https://t.co/2KmAvfGh3E
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) November 3, 2021
He was also quoted by the NYT as saying, “There’s guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys.”
What’s important to note here is that the team has had Rodgers under unvaccinated status, requiring him to take extra precautions that vaccinated players do not.
Jordan Love, celebrating his birthday yesterday, will now have a lot of eyes on him going into this weekend’s game. The Packers are likely to grab someone else to give Love some backup himself. ESPN is reporting that Blake Bortles, who previously worked with the team, will be signed to the practice squad. The earliest Rodgers could return is going to be November 13th.
Packers News has video of coach Matt LaFleur’s comments: