Green Bay Packers star and reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers will go up against the Los Angeles Rams this week, despite missing practice on Friday.

Rodgers is suffering from a fractured toe on his left foot, which clearly hampered him during last week's 34-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Packers quarterback is yet to practice in the lead up to Sunday's showdown at Lambeau Field, but head coach Matt LaFleur insisted Rodgers will play.

"Well, he came down to practice," LaFleur told reporters on Friday.

"He didn't participate in practice, but he was out there and relaying the calls to Jordan [Love], just getting that practice of just saying the playcalls."

LaFleur added: "Yeah, he'll play".

Rodgers threw for a season-high 385 yards to go with four touchdowns and zero interceptions against the Vikings in Week 11.

It was the fourth time Rodgers has thrown for 375 or more yards, four or more touchdowns and no interceptions in the same game, which is three more times than any other Packer QB, according to Stats Perform.

Rodgers ranks second for passer rating in the NFL (106.6), only behind Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (110.4).

Through 10 games this season, Rodgers has completed 219 of 328 passes for 2,571 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions.

"It's been how it's been going the past couple of weeks," Packers offensive co-ordinator Nathaniel Hackett said. "The one thing that I'll tell you is, my respect for him as a player goes up nonstop.

"Everybody talks about how he can throw the ball as good as he can, but his toughness is unbelievable. For him to do what he's doing with this going on is awesome.

"We trust him a ton and know that he's going to do whatever he needs to do to get ready for the game and to be able to go."

Green Bay fell to Minnesota, despite converting seven of their 11 third-down attempts (63.6 percent). It was the highest third-down conversion percentage for the Packers in a loss since Week 2 of the 2005 season, when the team lost 26-24 to the Cleveland Browns while converting 10-of-14 third downs.

Few prospective playoff teams have been scrutinised as heavily as the Los Angeles Rams in recent weeks.

Coming off back-to-back defeats to the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers, a Rams team considered a Super Bowl calibre outfit for effectively the entirety of the season faces the prospect of having to prove themselves all over again.

And they must do so against a Green Bay Packers team competing for the one seed, albeit with injuries that could well derail those hopes.

Potentially complicating matters for the Rams is that their last game may have provided future opponents with a possible blueprint to beating them.

The Niners claimed a fifth successive win over the Rams, crushing them 31-10 in Week 10 by sticking to a tried and tested formula that has continually paid dividends against Los Angeles, relying heavily on the run game and getting the ball out quickly on passing plays to negate the pass rush of Aaron Donald and recent trade acquisition Von Miller.

It is an approach the Packers could well adopt in order to mitigate the impact of their injuries. Green Bay's reigning MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, himself battling a fractured toe, will be without his two best offensive linemen.

Left tackle David Bakhtiari remains out with a knee injury while the versatile Elgton Jenkins, who can plug holes at several positions in the trenches, suffered a torn ACL in last week's defeat to the Minnesota Vikings.

Even with Jenkins' best efforts, the Packers went into Week 12 ranked 21st in pass protection win percentage, per Stats Perform data. Logic dictates they will only fall down the standings in that regard now he is on the shelf.

As such, a move to a run-heavy approach built around the quick passing game seems prudent, especially with the Packers facing a defender in Donald who has won an astonishing 62 of his 95 one-on-one pass rush matchups.

Going with that plan may suit the Packers perfectly. Green Bay could get running back Aaron Jones back from a knee injury this week to boost a ground game that ranks ninth in rush yards over expected.

In terms of the passing attack, Rodgers' time from snap of the ball to releasing it is 2.52 seconds, faster than the league average for quarterbacks (minimum 10 attempts) of 2.66 seconds.

When running quick game concepts, Rodgers has delivered an accurate, well-thrown ball 84.7 per cent of the time - the league average is 81.7.

Put simply, after being tormented by a divisional foe that has consistently proven their kryptonite, the Rams may now be faced with having to deal with a markedly similar gameplan executed by the best quarterback in the NFL last season.

The loss to the 49ers led to the Rams being labelled by many as a soft football team. Such aspersions will only grow more vociferous if they cannot capitalise on the Packers' personnel deficiencies and avoid a third straight defeat.

With the trades for quarterback Matthew Stafford and Miller and, most recently, the signing of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, the Rams have pushed all their chips to the middle, but a loss to Green Bay in the same circumstances as their defeat to San Francisco may leave most expecting them to again leave the table empty-handed come the end of the year.

Aaron Rodgers has revealed, quite literally, that he has a fractured toe on his left foot. 

The Green Bay Packers quarterback held his bare foot up to the camera as he met with reporters via video conference Wednesday, displaying what appeared to be a swollen pinkie toe. 

Rodgers struggled noticeably with his mobility early in Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, leaving the field at the end of the first half to get treatment on his toe. 

During his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, the host joked that Rodgers might have contracted "COVID toe" during his recent bout with coronavirus. 

Rodgers sought to set the record straight, telling reporters he fractured his toe while working out at home during his coronavirus quarantine.

He said he did not realise the extent of the injury until he rejoined the Packers on November 13 before playing the following day against the Seattle Seahawks. 

"Didn't think it was what it was until I got to the facility on Saturday before the game and got X-rayed when I got cleared when I came back in the facility," Rodgers said.

Rodgers did not practice Wednesday and is expected to see only limited action in Friday's workout ahead of this weekend's home game against the Los Angeles Rams. 

He and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur indicated it is a matter of "pain management" at this point, though Rodgers acknowledged he is weighing having surgery during the team's bye week if it would not force him to miss a game. 

"I'll definitely look at all options over the bye and decide what would be best to make sure that I get to the finish line," he said. 

The Green Bay Packers will be without Elgton Jenkins for the remainder of the NFL season due to a knee injury.

Offensive lineman Jenkins did the damage while blocking Minnesota safety Harrison Smith on a blitz during the fourth quarter of a 34-31 victory for the Vikings on Sunday.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur on Monday confirmed Jenkins has played his last match of the campaign.

"It's unfortunate," LaFleur said. "Certainly, Elgton's been a big part of this team and still is a big part of this team. But he just won't be out there with us."

Jenkins had been deputising for David Bakhtiari at left tackle for much of this year as he recovers from ACL surgery.

LaFleur says he is unsure when Bakhtiari will be able to return, so Yosh Nijman is set to step in at left tackle once again.

Nijman featured in that role three times this season while Jenkins was sidelined by an ankle injury.

LaFleur said of Nijman: "I think every time a guy goes out there and is able to perform at a high level, you just see their confidence build, and I think that is so important in this game.

"Yosh has all the traits you look for in an offensive lineman. He's big, he's athletic, he can bend, he's strong, powerful, everything. It's just about putting it all together on a consistent basis."

Aaron Rodgers will not be able to practice fully this week, but a toe injury will not keep the quarterback out of a Week 12 showdown with the Los Angeles Rams.

Aaron Rodgers is hoping to heal over the next bye week after being hampered by his "very, very painful" toe injury in the Green Bay Packers' heart-breaking loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

There were question marks over reigning NFL MVP Rodgers heading into Sunday's contest due to the toe issue and it proved problematic as the Vikings prevailed 34-31 on a game-ending field goal.

Rodgers, who was unable to practice much during the week, threw four touchdowns on 23-of-33 passing for a season-high 385 yards as the Packers fell to 8-3.

After leaving the field before the opening half was over, Rodgers discussed his toe, which has emerged as an issue since his return from the COVID-19 list.

"I'm just going to have to get to the bye and hope I can get some healing over the bye week," Rodgers said, with the Packers' next bye not until Week 13 following their matchup against the Los Angeles Rams (7-3).

"Probably the same schedule next week. Was in a lot of pain. Went in at half-time early to get it checked out. It's very, very painful. Got stepped on the first half, and that kind of activated all the symptoms I was having.

"It's going to be another painful week and next week and then hopefully start to feel a little better on the bye."

Green Bay tasted defeat after Greg Joseph converted a 29-yard field goal as time expired in Minnesota.

On the game between the division rivals, Rodgers added: "Our defence has been playing so good, some days have to outscore teams that get hot on offense.

"We had an opportunity to score 40 points today, and when you're playing an offense that's hot, that has a hot quarterback, and stud receivers and a stud back, you gotta keep scoring.

"We've had a couple games like this over the years, thinking about 2012 especially, where we gotta outscore them at their place. We didn't do that today. But I think for us personally on offense, we gotta to start faster. We gotta score touchdowns on those opening plays, so I know Matt will be looking at that this week and dial up some good stuff for L.A."

Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers plans to face the Minnesota Vikings this week after sitting out Wednesday's practice.

Rodgers – the reigning NFL MVP – did not practice midweek due to a toe issue ahead of Sunday's clash with the Vikings.

A Super Bowl champion, Rodgers returned last week from COVID-19 quarantine as the Packers (8-2) blanked the Seattle Seahawks 17-0.

Rodgers refused to shed light on his toe injury, though the 37-year-old quarterback is preparing to play against the Vikings in Minnesota.

"I'm not sure what my status will be tomorrow [Thursday] or Friday, but I'd like to get out there if I'm feeling good enough," Rodgers told reporters.

"But it's definitely a better week than last week being separated [during the quarantine], being able to go through all the meetings.

"I plan on being at practice on the field tomorrow, not sure how much involvement I'll do though."

Rodgers completed 23 of 37 passes for 292 yards in his return against the Seahawks, but the Packers' only touchdowns came on fourth-quarter runs by AJ Dillon. 

Green Bay's Rodgers returned to the line-up and threw for 292 yards – his second most of the season (344 against the Cincinnati Bengals). However, he did not complete a TD pass for the first time since Week 1 and had his worst QB rating (75.5) since Week 1 also (36.8).

"Obviously, the body is really looking forward to that, as is my toe," Rodgers said. "But we've got two games until then. It's kind of a day-to-day how I'm feeling, whether or not I'm going to practice, but I didn't find any issues with recovery, standard Monday and Tuesday, as I've done throughout the season.

"So I feel good wind-wise. I definitely took a few shots on Sunday, but I feel good today on Wednesday."

The Packers and Vikings have met five times in Minnesota since the start of the 2016 season. Minnesota won the first three consecutive games, but Green Bay have claimed the last two games giving them a 2-3 record over that span.

After an emotionally charged couple of weeks, Aaron Rodgers finally had a release on Sunday as he walked off the field following the Green Bay Packers' 17-0 shutout of the Seattle Seahawks. 

Rodgers missed the Packers' loss at the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9 after testing positive for COVID-19 and has been at the centre of a public debate ever since. 

Though he was far from his best after missing two weeks of practice, reigning NFL MVP Rodgers was grateful just to be back in his comfort zone at Lambeau Field as he led the Packers (8-2) to another victory. 

"Good to be back with the guys, good to be back at home, good to be on the field, really," Rodgers told reporters via videoconference. 

"The most emotions from the whole night was probably walking off the field after the game. It definitely got me a little misty."

Asked why he thought he felt that way, Rodgers responded: "I don't take these things for granted, walking off the field as a winner." 

Rodgers completed 23 of 37 passes for 292 yards in his return, but the Packers' only touchdowns came on fourth-quarter runs by AJ Dillon. 

On a night that saw his counterpart Russell Wilson become the latest star quarterback swallowed up by the Green Bay defence, Rodgers threw a key interception in the end zone late in the third quarter but otherwise avoided major mistakes. 

"I felt pretty good for the most part," Rodgers said. "I feel like I played fairly solid. Obviously I had the one bad decision in the red zone and probably missed a couple of throws."

Rodgers did acknowledge afterward that he felt a bit like "Anchorman" character Ron Burgundy, merely repeating what Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said via his headset to the team in huddles because he did not have a feel for the flow of the game after missing so much practice. 

The 37-year-old quarterback also told reporters after the game that he was tired – "It's been a long 10 days" – and LaFleur echoed that sentiment about the team as a whole. 

"I think our team is tired, to be honest with you," LaFleur said. "It definitely felt like you could feel the energy was maybe a little bit off." 

The good news for the Packers is their defence is showing no signs of fatigue. Facing Wilson, Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray the last three games, the Packers have allowed just 34 points. 

"It's so important to be able to win games in different fashions in this league," LaFleur said, "and I thought our defence really carried the night."

It took Aaron Rodgers a while to find his rhythm as he returned on Sunday, but the Green Bay Packers' defence eased the way for him in a 17-0 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. 

Rodgers missed the Packers' Week 9 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs after testing positive for COVID-19 and sat out practice all this week before being cleared to play on Saturday.

That rust was evident in his comeback as the Packers (8-2) could not find the end zone until AJ Dillon rushed for the first of his two fourth-quarter touchdowns with 10:37 to play in the game. 

Rodgers ended up completing 23 of 37 passes for 292 yards with an interception, but the good news for Green Bay was that Seahawks star Russell Wilson was even less effective in his own return.

Seattle (3-6) were shut out for the first time ever with Wilson at quarterback after he went just 20-of-40 passing for 161 yards with a pair of interceptions and was sacked three times.

Wilson's 39.7 passer rating was the fourth-worst of his 166 career regular-season and playoff games following his comeback from finger surgery.

Panthers pound Cardinals in Newton's return

Just three days after signing with his former team, Cam Newton made an immediate impact for the Carolina Panthers as they handed the Arizona Cardinals just their second loss of the season with a 34-10 defeat.

Carolina drove deep into Arizona territory on their first two possessions of the game and sent Newton in to replace starter P.J. Walker at quarterback, with the Panthers favourite running for and passing for touchdowns on his first two snaps. 

Those scores put Carolina (5-5) on the path to a 23-0 half-time lead and Arizona (8-2) could not find a way back with Kyler Murray still absent due to an ankle injury. While his backup Colt McCoy played well in a Week 9 victory, he completed just 11 of 20 passes for 107 yards with no touchdowns and an interception against Carolina. 

Walker was 22-of-29 passing for 167 yards with an interception for Carolina, while Christian McCaffrey led all players with 95 rushing yards and 66 receiving yards. 

Week 9 saw the NFL world robbed of an extremely compelling quarterback matchup, Aaron Rodgers left to watch from home as the Green Bay Packers fell to defeat against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, Rodgers is set to return from his controversial coronavirus-enforced hiatus on Sunday at Lambeau Field, where he will face another likely future Hall of Fame quarterback set to return to the field.

Russell Wilson lived up to praise from head coach Pete Carroll, who described him as "one of the great healers of all time" after a finger injury suffered in the Week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, surpassing expectations by recovering in time to lead the Seattle Seahawks against Green Bay as they bid to salvage their season.

The Seahawks are not dead at 3-5. Seattle enter the week just a game out of the final Wild Card berth; however, Wilson and Co. have little room for error ahead of a road game with a member of the NFC's elite.

It is a contest that may be decided by which quarterback can shake off the rust faster. Wilson has been on the sideline longer, but Rodgers will enter the game having missed two weeks of practice amid the fallout from his positive test and his comments around his vaccination status.

What other factors will play a role in determining the outcome of an enticing quarterback battle? Stats Perform digs into the numbers to answer that question.

Can Collins gash Packers on ground?

The Packers defense has quietly been one of the best in the NFL when it comes to limiting efficient production from their opponents.

Indeed, Green Bay rank fifth in opponent yards per play allowed, giving up just 5.27.

However, the Packers have proven susceptible to the run, with only six teams allowing more yards per rush than Green Bay's 4.55.

With Chris Carson still unavailable for the Seahawks, the onus will be on Alex Collins to take advantage of the Packers' apparent vulnerability on rush defense.

Collins has proven adept at making the most of his carries even on plays where the defense gets into the backfield. He is putting up 3.00 yards per carry on attempts where there is a run disruption, above the league average of 2.80.

His ability to excel in that regard could be key in getting the Packers' defense out of looks that have proven successful against Wilson.

Two-high looks could spell trouble for Wilson

In last week's loss to the Chiefs, the Packers played a significant amount of two-deep safety coverages to deal with the threat of Mahomes and a usually explosive pass game that has stuttered this season.

It worked as the Chiefs were held to just 13 points, and the numbers suggest Green Bay will lean on two-high looks again to try to slow down Wilson on his return.

When faced with Cover 2 this season, Wilson has delivered an accurate, well-thrown ball 80.0 per cent of the time; the league average is 83.4.

He has fared even worse against Cover 4 or 'Quarters', posting a well-thrown percentage of 72.4 (79.6 per cent is the average), and that number dips further to 62.5 per cent versus cover 6 (average 77.3 per cent).

Against Tampa 2, which is a variant of Cover 2 with a linebacker dropping into the deep middle at the snap, Wilson's well-thrown percentage is 75.0, again below the average of 82.7.

Wilson has already outperformed expectations by returning this quickly from injury and has made a career out of making the improbable possible. Yet, if Collins cannot succeed on the ground and force the Packers to bring a safety down into the box to stop the run, it could be a difficult day for Wilson facing coverages against which he has not excelled.

Seahawks must capitalise on Bakhtiari blow

The Packers had hoped to have David Bakhtiari back at left tackle, but he was listed as doubtful on the injury report as he attempts to make his return from a knee injury.

Bakhtiari's likely absence is a boost to a Seahawks defense that may see its best hope of slowing down Rodgers as being in their ability to get consistent pressure on the reigning MVP and magnify the impact of any potential rust.

While the Seahawks are a middle-of-the-road defense in terms of yards per play, in which they rank 16th (5.55), they are a top-half unit when it comes to creating pressure.

Their 139 pressures this season are 13th in the NFL and, in Rodgers, they are facing a quarterback who has proven particularly susceptible to opposing pass rushes in 2021.

Only team-mate Jordan Love (40.0) and Zach Wilson (53.7) have worse well-thrown percentages than Rodgers (55.2) when under duress among quarterbacks to have attempted 10 passes under pressure.

And Rodgers' pickable pass rate of 8.62 per cent under pressure is substantially worse than the average for quarterbacks (min. 10 attempts) of 4.82.

The spotlight will be firmly on Rodgers after a fortnight he will not forget in a hurry. It is the Seahawks, though, who enter the game with their backs against the wall, and it may take an instrumental performance from Collins and a potent pass rush to prevent Seattle slipping further towards playoff irrelevance.

Aaron Rodgers is off the reserve/COVID-19 list and should feature for the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's clash with the Seattle Seahawks.

Rodgers was absent against the Kansas City Chiefs after testing positive for COVID-19. The quarterback is unvaccinated.

The Packers missed their talisman, with a 13-7 loss ending their seven-game winning streak. Green Bay have now scored seven or fewer points twice this season, tied for second most in the NFL.

They have, however, scored 24 or more in seven games, also tied for second most in the NFL, and Rodgers' return will provide a timely boost for the Week 10 meeting with Seattle, who have lost nine straight games against Green Bay in a run stretching back to 2003 (including playoffs).

Rodgers played in all eight of Green Bay's opening games and threw for 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

The 37-year-old does have a toe problem and has been added to the injury report, though does not have a game-status designation for this weekend, suggesting he should be fit to feature.

Earlier this week, the Packers and Rodgers were fined by the NFL after the league opened an investigation following the positive coronavirus cases, with wide receiver Allen Lazard having also contracted the virus. 

The review found that the pair had violated protocols by not wearing masks inside the Packers' facility and also by attending a Halloween party. 

Isaac Yiadom has also been taken off the reserve/COVID-19 list, while La'Darius Hamilton has been released by the Packers, general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed.

The Green Bay Packers are expecting reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to return against the Seattle Seahawks, but backup quarterback Jordan Love is ready to play.

Rodgers missed last weeks' 13-7 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs after the star quarterback was left on the sidelines, having tested positive for coronavirus.

The Rodgers-less Packers (7-2) fell short with Love under center in Kansas City, where Green Bay's seven-game winning streak came to an end.

While Rodgers has not practiced this week, the Packers are set to welcome back the 37-year-old on Sunday.

However, Love – who made his first career start against the Chiefs – is waiting in the wings to face the Seahawks at Lambeau Field.

"I think it's been a normal week for me, pretty similar to last week getting all the reps," Love, who was the 26th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, said on Friday.

"Just getting the game plan in, preparing like I'm going to be playing and then obviously the plan is for Aaron to be back Saturday so he'll be going.

"But for me, it's the same. Still playing the whole week and then we'll be ready for whatever happens."

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur added: "Had a lot of conversations with Aaron in that regard as to what he needs to be ready to go.

"It wouldn't be the first time in his career that he hadn't practiced an entire week and gone on and played a game.

"So as long as he's confident with what we're doing with him, then we'll see where he's at tomorrow [Saturday]."

The Packers have won nine straight home games against the Seahawks dating back to 2003 (including playoffs). It is Green Bay's longest home win streak against any opponent since 24 straight against the Detroit Lions (1992 to 2014), according to Stats Perform. Seattle's last win in Green Bay was in 1999.

Green Bay have scored seven or fewer points twice this season, tied for second most in the NFL. They have scored 24 or more in seven games, also tied for second most in the NFL.

The NFL has fined the Green Bay Packers and their quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Allen Lazard for violating COVID-19 protocols and warned that further transgressions could result in more severe penalties. 

ESPN first reported the discipline handed down Tuesday by the league, which will cost the team $300,000 and the players $14,650 each. 

The league opened an investigation last week after Rodgers tested positive for coronavirus, which forced him to sit out Sunday's 13-7 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. 

He and Lazard are not vaccinated, and a league review found that they violated protocols by not wearing masks inside the Packers' facility and also by attending a Halloween party. 

"We respect the league's findings and we recognise the importance of adherence to the COVID protocols to keep our team and organisation safe and healthy," Packers president Mark Murphy said in a statement.

"We will continue to educate the team regarding the importance of the protocols and remain committed to operating within the protocols."

Multiple outlets said the league told the Packers they could face a loss of draft picks or drop back in the draft order if they commit further violations, and the players also could face more significant sanctions. 

Aaron Rodgers acknowledged Tuesday that people might have felt "misled" by him saying he was "immunised" against COVID-19, but he sought to turn the focus away from his decisions and back to the field. 

The Green Bay Packers quarterback missed Sunday's 13-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after testing positive for coronavirus last week, and the revelation that he had not been vaccinated as many believed he had implied during the preseason ignited a firestorm of criticism. 

Rodgers sought to move past that in an appearance Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show, though he continued to stand by his decision. 

"I'm an athlete, I'm not an activist," Rodgers said. "So I'm going to get back to doing what I do best, and that's playing ball.

"I shared my opinion. It wasn't one that was come to frivolously. It involved a lot of study and what I felt like was in my best interest for my body."

Under the NFL's protocols, Rodgers will not be able to practice with the Packers this week but he could be cleared Saturday to play in Sunday's home game against the Seattle Seahawks. 

He said he hopes the reception from the crowd at Lambeau Field, the only home he has known in his 17-year NFL career, will be the same as it ever has been whenever he next takes the field there. 

That would be a welcome change from the blow-back he has received over the last few days, which Rodgers acknowledged Tuesday. 

"I'm human, stuff can definitely hurt your feelings," he said. "But, look, I shared an opinion that is polarising. I get it. And I misled some people about my status, which I take full responsibility of those comments.

"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.

"I have a ton of empathy for people who have been going through the worst part of this pandemic, which has affected all of us in different ways, but so many people with, like I said, lives that were lost, lives that were forever changed, and I have a ton of compassion and empathy for those people. I have tried to help out as much as I can.

"The other stuff is so out of my control, and there's going to be people that don't like you, and hate you for things you said or might not understand what you said or know what you said and might've just seen a headline. And that's fine.

"I believe that people are entitled to their opinion, even if it's an opinion that's unfavourable to me."

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he and his staff are preparing separate game plans that feature either Rodgers or backup Jordan Love starting at quarterback. 

Love struggled in his first NFL start, completing 19 of 34 passes for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception for a 69.5 passer rating, but Rodgers had nothing but praise for the 23-year-old. 

"I'm proud of Jordan. I thought he hung in there," Rodgers said. "The only thing I told him during the week was just to trust his feet because he is a very athletic guy.

"I thought he did a nice job of avoiding sacks, getting out of the pocket, making positive plays out of potential sacks. I might have got sacked in certain situations; he was able to elusively get out of the pocket there and have positive gains."

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shouldered the blame for Jordan Love's struggles in the 13-7 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Love made his first start for the Packers after reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers was left on the sidelines having tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday.

The Rodgers-less Packers (7-2) fell short on Sunday with Love under centre in Kansas City, where Green Bay's seven-game winning streak came to an end.

Love – the 26th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft – was 19-of-34 passing for 190 yards, a touchdown and interception, while the 23-year-old rushed for another 23 yards on five carries.

"This one falls on me, squarely," LaFleur said when discussing Love's woes against the blitz. "Certainly, for us to be two for 12 on third down, obviously didn't have a good enough plan for some of the zero pressures that they brought on us.

"But I thought our guys battled. I thought Jordan, I was really proud of the way he played. He hung in there, he was taking hits and delivering the ball.

"I thought he did a really good job. But I think that, ultimately, I've got to be better and this one falls squarely on me."

Regarding his own performance, Love added: "Obviously not good enough. I think we started off a little slow, I started off a little slow personally.

"I think we got into a bit of a rhythm later. Obviously, it was too late. Just not good enough."

"I think we started having a better answer in the end, but yeah, they were bringing the all out, they were eating us up and we just weren't able to execute on those plays that we had against it," Love said.

"I think all it took was maybe one big play against it, and it wouldn't have been coming as much. Obviously, we weren't able to execute it, so that's why they kept bringing it."