Packers’ Rodgers cleared to play

Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis.

Aaron Rodgers has been cleared to return from a left collarbone injury, just in time to start Sunday for the Packers against the Chicago Bears in a game to decide the NFC North title.

With no advance warning and little fanfare, the franchise quarterback received the long-awaited good news at the same time as the rest of his teammates Thursday.

“This is a fun day for me, but I think the focus needs to be on this game and the opportunity we have to win the division,” Rodgers said.

Soon enough. But the spotlight for now is squarely on the return of one of the NFL’s most irreplaceable players.

Green Bay (7-7-1) is 2-5-1 since Rodgers went down during the first series of a 27-20 loss Nov. 4 to Chicago. The Packers have managed to hang on, with a shot to win a third straight division title with a victory Sunday at Soldier Field.

“I’ll start with the announcement that we’re preparing for the Chicago Bears with Aaron Rodgers as our starting quarterback,” coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Thursday after practice.

Win and Green Bay returns to Lambeau Field the following weekend to host a wild-card team in the first round of the playoffs.

The last two months have been filled with angst for Packers fans. Discussions about whether Rodgers should risk future injury or return to bolster Green Bay’s playoff chances have filled sports talk radio shows and holiday office parties.

Now imagine what it was like for the Packers’ brass and team doctor. The organization made a big investment in Rodgers this past offseason, signing him to a five-year contract extension through the 2019 season worth as much as $110 million.