Aaron Rodgers' lack of mobility wasn't (and won't be) a factor

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The quarterback keeper didn’t look pretty. Not when the ball slipped from Aaron Rodgers' hand, forcing the him to fall on it and take the 3-yard loss in overtime on Sunday.

Nor did the next play work out, either, when a pass-protection breakdown left the Green Bay Packers quarterback with no choice but to duck and take the sack.

But neither one of those plays could be chalked up to a lack of mobility because of his injured left knee.

In fact, Rodgers proved more mobile than he thought a week after he went down with the injury in the season opener. No, Rodgers couldn’t pull off another remarkable victory. in part because of those two aborted plays; but in Sunday's 29-29 tie with the Minnesota Vikings, he at least showed that the way he played is sustainable until his knee heals.

Rodgers probably will again have to wear the brace -- a “typical DonJoy” brand model, Rodgers said -- and he couldn’t say for sure whether the injury would be an issue all season.

“I hope not, but we’ll see,” Rodgers said after the Vikings game. “It’s the type of thing that could linger for a while.”

That means expect more of the same style of play from Rodgers this Sunday at the Washington Redskins.

And that’s not a bad thing.

One longtime NFL scout said last week that Rodgers’ injury wouldn’t limit what he does best: stay in the pocket and get the ball out quickly.

Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy adhered to that against the Vikings.

Through the first three quarters, Rodgers attempted 26 passes, but only two came outside the pocket, according to ESPN Stats & Information data. In the fourth quarter and overtime, he attempted four passes from outside the pocket.

It’s not like it limited his effectiveness.

Since he returned from his injury in the second half of the opener against the Chicago Bears, Rodgers has completed 76 percent of his passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns from inside the pocket.

He also has handled the blitz.

He completed 9-of-9 passes for 87 yards when the Vikings sent extra pass-rushers, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. Although he was sacked four times, he completed 6-of-9 passes for 94 yards when under what was determined “duress” and also scrambled twice for 11 yards (including one first down).

“I knew I was going to be able to move better than [after the injury during the Week 1 contest], and I was able to move just enough,” Rodgers said after Sunday’s game. “So today was an improvement. Hopefully no setbacks once we come in here tomorrow and see how it feels, be smart about the week of practice. I’d love to get out there; you have more rhythm when you’re doing that. But I think I’ve shown I can practice one day or no days and still go out there and lead us.”

The Redskins and future opponents still have to respect the threat that Rodgers might decide to move out of the pocket, like he did on the 27-yard fourth-quarter completion to tight end Jimmy Graham on a "keep" pass that set up Mason Crosby’s shot at a game-winning 52-yard field goal in regulation that missed wide left.

“As long as I can move in a circle, and [Sunday] I actually moved a little better -- I told Mike in the fourth quarter I was feeling good,” Rodgers said. “If he wanted to do any keep passes that I was up for it. We didn’t actually think those were possible early in the week, but I felt pretty good.”

McCarthy added his take.

“I didn't see him practice until Saturday and we didn't call any quarterback runs in Saturday's practice," McCarthy said. "So I was definitely surprised to see him move the way he did.”

Rodgers could follow the same practice plan as that of last week, when he sat out until the week's final session, on the eve of the game.

But when Rodgers took to the field on Sunday, his already high credibility in the locker room went up another notch.

“That’s the will to want to be with your players and give your team everything you have knowing that you’re still able to do certain things,” Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix said. “I think a lot of guys play injured, but when you see your quarterback, the head of the state, giving you all he has, I have no reason to complain about a pinkie or an elbow. No matter what your goals were this year -- catch 1,000 yards, well you need to bump it up to 1,500 -- you need to find a way to do even more.”