November 14, 2021 NFL news: Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers face the Seattle Seahawks | CNN

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Aaron Rodgers returns following Covid-19 diagnosis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
'I take full responsibility': Aaron Rodgers on his Covid-19 vaccine comments
02:05 - Source: CNN

What we're covering here

  • The Green Bay Packers face off against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field.
  • The game is the first for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers since testing positive for Covid-19 and confirming that he is unvaccinated.
  • Rodgers appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday and took “full responsibility” for his comments about his vaccination status.

Our live coverage of the game has ended for the day. Read up on what happened in Green Bay below.

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Aaron Rodgers on if he's concerned he'll miss more games: "I don’t like playing the what-if game"

Aaron Rodgers said his return to the field was emotional and he was a “little misty” walking off at the end after the Packers’ victory over the Seattle Sea Hawks in Green Bay.

When asked if he was experiencing any lingering effects from Covid-19, he said, “I feel pretty good,” adding that his “wind” was good during the game.

He said that the past week’s preparation was “not ideal for sure, being on Zoom all week.”

At one point during the press conference, a reporter asked him if, following the events of the past couple of weeks, he expects a different reception from fans on the road, Rodgers said, “I don’t think so.”

Rodgers was asked if he’s concerned that at some point he might test positive again and miss a big game like the Super Bowl, he responded, “I don’t like playing the what-if game.”

Green Bay Packers beat Seattle Seahawks, 17-0

It’s all over in Green Bay.

Packers defeat the Seahawks 17-0 in Aaron Rodgers’ return to the field. Rodgers sat out last week’s game after testing positive for Covid-19 and admitting he was unvaccinated.

The 37-year-old Packers quarterback looked rusty. He ended up completing 23 on 37 attempts with 292 yards and an interception. Green Bay held the Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson, who was coming back from a finger injury, to 15 first downs, 3.5 yards per play, and just 208 total yards of offense in the game.

Green Bay moves to 8-2 on the year. Seattle falls to 3-6.

AJ Dillon punches in a touchdown, Green Bay up 17-0

Packers running back AJ Dillon notched his second touchdown of the contest and pushed his team’s lead to 17-0 late in the fourth.

Dillon’s two-yard score capped off a 10-play, 80-yard drive in which the Packers ran more than 6 minutes off the clock.

There are less than two minutes left in the game for Russell Wilson and Seattle.

Two-minute warning in Green Bay

Just two minutes left on the clock with the Packers milking a 10-0 lead.

Green Bay has the ball deep in Seattle territory and is looking to pad their lead.

Things look pretty bleak for the Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson in his return to the field.

Green Bay finds the end zone, leads 10-0 in the 4th quarter

Finally, a touchdown.

Green Bay running back A.J. Dillon powered the ball into the end zone from three yards out to cap off an 11 play, 62 yards drive by the Packers.

The Packers extend their lead to 10-0 over the Seahawks in the fourth quarter.

Both quarterbacks throw interceptions in the 3rd quarter

We’re in the third quarter in Green Bay with the Packers still up 3-0 on the Seattle Seahawks.

Neither quarterback looked sharp in the first half and that trend has continued.

The Packers were forced to punt from their own 13-yard line on their first possession of the half, allowing the Seahawks to take over with good field position at their 38-yard line.

Russell Wilson led Seattle on a nine play, 50 yard drive deep into Packers territory. But on third down, with the ball on the Green Bay 12 yard line, Wilson scrambled out of trouble and tried to find DK Metcalf in the end zone. His pass was intercepted by Packers cornerback Kevin King for a touchback.

Green Bay took over and Aaron Rodgers proceeded to march the Packers down the field. On third and 6 from the Seahawks 15-yard line, Rodgers escaped a sack but then threw one up for grabs in the direction of tight end Josiah Deguara. His pass was intercepted.

The game is heading to the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field.

Second half begins in Green Bay

The second half is starting at Lambeau Field. Packers are up 3-0 on the Seahawks.

Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay managed to put up just three points in the first half against Seattle, who is the 29th ranked defense against the pass and 31st ranked overall with only the New York Jets below them.

Packers lead Seahawks at the half, 3-0

It’s been a defensive affair at Lambeau Field in Green Bay so far.

The home side mustered the only points of the first half thanks to a Mason Crosby second-quarter field goal. Crosby missed another field goal attempt earlier in the game.

The story coming into this contest was the return of the two big-name quarterbacks — Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Rodgers missed last week’s game versus Kansas City after testing positive for Covid-19. After his diagnosis was revealed, Rodgers confirmed he is unvaccinated. The Green Bay quarterback was quarantined for 10 days before being cleared to play on Saturday. Wilson missed the last three games with a finger injury on his throwing hand that required surgery.

Neither quarterback lit up the highlight reel in the first half. Rodgers completed 14 passes on 23 attempts for 160 yards. He also fumbled in the second quarter but recovered the ball himself. Wilson was 8-13 for just 66 yards. He was also sacked twice.

Two-minute warning in the first half

It’s the two-minute warning in Green Bay. The Packers lead the Seahawks 3-0 and have the ball on their own 40-yard line.

Green Bay strikes first, up 3-0

The Packers struck first in the second quarter at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay advanced the ball downfield to the Seahawks 9 yard line but couldn’t find the end zone.

Placekicker Mason Crosby, who missed a field goal earlier in the game, put it through the uprights from 27 yards. The home team leads 3-0.

Scoreless after one quarter in Green Bay

The Packers and Seahawks are locked at 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. It’s been a defensive battle so far.

Green Bay put together a decent opening drive with QB Aaron Rodgers connecting with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a 41-yard pass play. But a holding penalty stalled the Packers’ progress before placekicker Mason Crosby sent a 42-yard field goal attempt wide right.

Seattle looked like they were getting going on their second possession of the game. But a botched flea-flicker and a Whitney Mercilus sack of QB Russell Wilson stopped the Seahawks’ drive, forcing their second punt of the game.

Packers vs Seahawks starts now

We’re underway at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Both starting quarterbacks return to action. Seattle’s Russell Wilson missed the last three games with an injured finger on his throwing hand that required surgery.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns after testing positive for Covid-19 and confirming that he is unvaccinated. Following his diagnosis, Rodgers was quarantined for 10 days. He was just cleared to play on Saturday and did not practice with the team this week.

Some context: The Seahawks haven’t beaten the Packers at Lambeau in over two decades. The last time Seattle prevailed at Green Bay was in 1999 with a 27-7 win.

Aaron Rodgers says he isn't a "Covid denier"

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who appeared on The Pat McAfee Show for roughly 45 minutes on Friday, at one-point paraphrased Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. while explaining his stance.

“The great MLK said that ‘You have a moral obligation to object to unjust rules and rules that make no sense,’” the quarterback said.

Rodgers said that certain strict NFL protocols were not based on science, noting that if he tested negative for Covid-19 every day and was surrounded by vaccinated people, why should he be “shamed” into wearing a mask throughout the Packers facility.

In response to the question about what will change when Rodgers gets back, he said he believed he didn’t need to be tested for 90-days and set the record straight that he has taken the pandemic seriously and is not a “Covid-denier.” 

“I have taken this seriously. I’m not a Covid denier or any bullsh*t like that. I just wanted to make the decision that was best for my body. That’s it. I wear my mask when I go out in public. The only time I haven’t worn my mask is when I’m around all vaccinated people,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers specifically explained his reasoning on why he did not get vaccinated. 

“It was actually pretty easy in the beginning to eliminate two of them….It was simply the fact that I have an allergy to an ingredient that’s in the mRNA vaccines… My only option was the Johnson & Johnson. At this time, in the early Spring, I have heard of multiple people who have had adverse events around getting the J&J. No deaths or anything but just some really difficult times and physical abnormalities around the J&J shot,” the quarterback said.

He said the decision to seek alternative treatments was “what was best for my body.” 

Another starting NFL quarterback sat out today after being placed on the Covid-19 list

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was placed on the reserve/Covid-19 list and missed today’s game at home against the Detroit Lions.

The team announced on Saturday that Roethlisberger would miss Sunday’s game.

Last week, during an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Roethlisberger announced he was fully vaccinated against Covid-19 after being asked what protocols he must follow in the locker room. 

“I think you’re supposed to have your mask on if you’re not vaccinated. I don’t know who on our team is and isn’t. I know I am, so I don’t have to have my mask on, but you still have to live your life,” Roethlisberger said. 

Some context: The reserve/Covid-19 list is for players who either test positive for the novel coronavirus or who have been in close contact with someone who is infected.

Roethlisberger had started all of the previous eight Steelers games this season, throwing for 1,986 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Roethlisberger became the second starting quarterback this month to be ruled out of a game after being placed on the reserve/Covid-19 list. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed the team’s Week 9 game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to Covid-19 protocols. Rodgers was activated off the list before the team’s Week 10 tilt against the Seattle Seahawks, the Packers announced earlier on Saturday. 

Rodgers consulted with Joe Rogan, took Ivermectin among other treatments for Covid-19 infection

While on the Pat McAfee Show on Friday, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he consulted with podcast host Joe Rogan and took his advice on how he treated his own Covid-19 infection. 

“I consulted with a now good friend of mine Joe Rogan, after he got Covid, and I’ve a lot of the stuff he recommended in his podcast and on the phone to me,” Rodgers said. 

“I’m going to have the best immunity possible now based on the 2.5-million-person study from Israel that the people that get Covid and recover, have the most robust immunity. I’m thankful for people like Joe stepping up and using his voice. I’m thankful for my medical squad and I’m thankful for all the love and support I’ve gotten but I’ve been taking monoclonal antibodies, Ivermectin, zinc, vitamin C and DHCQ and I feel pretty incredible,” the quarterback said.

Rodgers said he did not get vaccinated because he has an allergy to an ingredient in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and was scared about the possible side effects from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. He said the decision to seek alternative treatments was “what was best for my body.” 

Rodgers said the NFL knew he was unvaccinated, and he had multiple conversations with NFL doctors including one where a doctor told him, “it is impossible for vaccinated person to get Covid or spread Covid.”

Rodgers said he had previously tried to “petition” the league that his homeopathic treatment of increasing his antibodies should be considered as an alternative to getting fully vaccinated via Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Rodgers continued, “at that point I knew I was definitely not going to win the appeal.” 

CNN has asked the NFL about this claim and whether the league has a comment.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers expected to play on Sunday

Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was activated off the NFL’s reserve/Covid-19 list, the team confirmed on Saturday.

He is expected to play in the team’s week 10 tilt against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Rodgers, who missed the team’s Week 9 game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to Covid-19 protocols, will return after finishing the mandatory 10-day quarantine period required for unvaccinated players that test positive for the virus.

Some more context: The 37-year-old drew criticism for misleading reporters after announcing in August that he was “immunized” when asked if he was vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus. 

Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he was unvaccinated due to being allergic to an ingredient in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as well as being scared about the possible side effects from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“I shared an opinion that is polarizing, I get it. I misled some people about my status, which I take full responsibility of those comments,” he said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “But in the end, I have to stay true to who I am and what I’m about. And I stand behind the things that I said.” 

This week, the NFL fined the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers and teammate Allen Lazard after a review found the team and its two players violated Covid-19 protocols. The Packers were fined $300,000, while Rodgers and Lazard were each fined $14,650 due to attending a Halloween party despite being unvaccinated.

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