Packers QB Aaron Rodgers limited in practice with right shoulder injury

When asked if he had any concern about his availability against the Vikings, Rodgers simply said: “No”. “I think that’s the difference”, Rodgers said.

Both the teams will be working hard this coming Sunday in a Week 11 showdown for NFC North bragging rights.

As the quarterback and face of one of the league’s most storied franchises, Rodgers is set up to take the hits when the Packers fail. Minnesota’s next four games are home to Green Bay (6-3), at Atlanta (6-3; 3-1 at home), home for Seattle (will be playing for their playoff lives), and at Arizona (7-2; 3-1 at home). The Packers can’t afford to lose four games in a row and allow Minnesota to take a two-game lead in the division, and they absolutely can’t afford Rodgers shoulder to worsen. The starters on the right side of the line, tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) and guard T.J. Lang (shoulder) sat out Wednesday’s light practice entirely.

It’s unusual to feel confident about the Minnesota Vikings going into a game against the Green Bay Packers.

Protecting Rodgers is always a priority. However, he certainly isn’t the only banged up Packer and many have contributed to Green Bay’s midseason woes. Detroit drafted him in the third round in 2012 and he started eight games and played in 18 games over three seasons. But the respect comes back toward Minnesota, too, as Rodgers gushed about Zimmer’s chops as a football coach.

And to the dismay of coach Mike McCarthy after the stunning home loss to the Detroit Lions last Sunday, Rodgers has been banged up. He was 35 of 61 for 333 yards and two scores. He ran for a 24-yard touchdown and had a 36-yard catch in his debut, but the Lions are struggling to get him the ball on offense. “And then we had a couple mental errors”. The wide receiver has been out for a month with the injury, but did return to practice.

Without Nelson, teams are pressing receivers to disrupt routes and bringing a safety up to help with the run. Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, and James Jones will all have to step up in order to give the Packers any shot at winning. “If you polled the 32 general managers and asked them to pick the top quarterback in the game today, one would say Tom Brady and the other 31 would probably say Rodgers”, Tarkenton writes in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Meanwhile, indications are running back Eddie Lacy will be recovered from the groin injury that caused him to miss the Lions game.

WR/KR Ty Montgomery (ankle) was downgraded from full status in practice Wednesday to limited participation Thursday.

It’s Zimmer’s version of the zone blitz Packers Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers has used effectively during his career. “We’ve got a good group in terms of being resilient, I don’t think there’s any question about that. We’ll see where he is”, McCarthy said.

Meanwhile new contributors on offense can’t stay healthy.