Aaron Rodgers jokes that toe injury was COVID-related
The Green Bay Packers on Saturday activated Aaron Rodgers from the COVID-19 reserve list, a move that sparked conversation around the league after Rodgers’ firm stance on his vaccination.
Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 not long ago, and as it later became clear, he had not received the COVID-19 vaccination — despite telling media earlier in the season that he’d been “immunized” against the spread, leading many to presume he received the vaccine. He apologized and took full responsibility for what could have been perceived as misleading. Then, a week later, Rodgers on Tuesday appeared again on The Pat McAfee Show and once again stole the spotlight.
Right after he was activated from the COVID-19 list, Rodgers was placed on the Packers’ injury list with a toe injury. He ended up playing, and the Packers picked up a much-needed, 17-0 win over the Seattle Seahawks; it remains unclear how Rodgers sustained the injury, but after McAfee asked, he responded jokingly that it was COVID-related.
“That was a COVID injury,” Rodgers said to McAfee, when asked how he sustained the toe injury. “As far as the heart [and deciding whether he was fit to play Sunday], I just had to back into working out, just to see how I was feeling. Day five and six, I had a couple of good workouts, and I felt good afterwards, so I wasn’t worried about my wind or heart or any of those issues, and got checked out before I had any issues. So, I felt really good.”
In his return, Rodgers completed 23 of his 37 passing attempts for 292 yards and an interception. Thanks to a 21-carry, 66-yard, two-touchdown performance by running back AJ Dillon — who took over in the backfield after Aaron Jones sustained an injury — the Packers managed to put up enough offense to win the contest.
“It’s a little painful, but I think I’ll be OK. I was able to run around a little bit on Sunday,” Rodgers continued of the toe injury, declining to specify how it happened. He joked that he sustained the injury “by doing a two-minute drill in the backyard. You never know. Was I working in the greenhouse? You never know.”
Rodgers fires back at media amid controversy
As part of a lengthy answer about his positive COVID-19 test, Rodgers previously discussed the media coverage of his situation and voiced his displeasure with the coverage on The Pat McAfee Show. The Green Bay Packers’ quarterback is a regular on McAfee’s show, and walked McAfee and co-host AJ Hawk through everything about his positive test.
Rodgers also discussed whether or not he broke the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols before responding to the media. He didn’t hold back.
“I just want to say that is what the media has been trying to do,” Rodgers said. “They’re trying to shame and out and cancel all of us non-vaccinated people, call us selfish. That’s the propaganda line, too: ‘You’re selfish for making the decision that’s in the best interest of your body.’ Now, I’ve already spelled out — which I didn’t have to — but I spelled out the issues of my own personal body and my own personal health. I have issues related to ingredients in the mRNA vaccines, then the J&J got pulled, not to mention the numerous issues with the J&J vaccine to this day.