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Will the pair oppose one another Sunday in Chicago as they did
during the Packers' 27-10 home romp in Week 2?
Things look to be trending that way, but it may not be official
until shortly before kickoff at Soldier Field.
What is certain: the Packers (4-8) and Bears (3-9) are reeling
as they renew the NFL's most-contested rivalry.
Green Bay has lost seven of eight, while Chicago enters on a
five-game skid, including three losses by one possession.
Given the Packers' success with Rodgers under center over the
past decade-plus, it's the rare meeting between the teams in
which there's more at stake with draft positioning than playoff
seeding.
Still, Green Bay is harboring slim postseason hopes, as well,
needing to win out while hoping for help.
"I think we're always trying to develop and look for
opportunities to get some guys in there that you might not know
about, but I think right now the focus is 100 percent on winning
this football game and doing whatever it takes," Packers coach
Matt LaFleur said.
The Packers have won the past seven games in the series. Their
bid to extend the run to eight figures to include Rodgers, as
LaFleur said his expectation is for Rodgers to play in Week 13.
Rodgers left in the third quarter of the team's 40-33 loss at
Philadelphia last week with injured ribs. Rodgers, who already
had been playing with a broken thumb, said he struggled to
breathe and move his upper body.
While the Packers scored in the 30s for just the second time
this season, it wasn't enough as Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts
rushed for 157 yards while throwing for 153 more and two
touchdowns.
If healthy, Fields, a developing dual threat who rushed for 410
yards from Weeks 9-11, surely would present matchup nightmares
for a scuffling Packers defense. Fields has recorded both a
passing and rushing touchdown in five straight games, but missed
last week's loss to the New York Jets.
"We'd be foolish not to plan for Justin," LaFleur said. "Because
if you don't, you will get gutted. That quarterback run game
they have is pretty spectacular, and it doesn't even always show
up just in the run game, but just on his ability to drop back
and if nothing is there to find a window and an escape lane and
make you pay in that regard."
Fields said he is "feeling better each and every day."
Bears coach Matt Eberflus announced Wednesday that safety Eddie
Jackson (foot) would miss the rest of the season. He was among
several Bears injured in the Jets game.
Injuries to offensive linemen Riley Reiff (back) and Larry Borom
(ankle/knee) may create an opening for right tackle Alex
Leatherwood to make his first start as a Bear.
"We are excited and intrigued to see where it goes because he is
a heck of an athlete at that position and we'll see where it
goes from there," Eberflus said.
--Field Level Media
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