Aaron Rodgers’ Injury Has Packers Fans Entering Uncharted Waters

It has been approximately 60 hours since the crack heard ’round Packer Nation, and Packers fans are still trying to cope with it.

When Aaron Rodgers, the face of the Packers and arguably the best player in the NFL, went down hard on the turf at Lambeau Field, it sent a moment of panic through anyone who bleeds green and gold.

The sight of him running into the tunnel caused hearts to jump.

Seeing him walk back on the sidelines in plain clothes making the same hearts sink.

When word came out that it was a broken collarbone, and he would be lost for several weeks, reality set in: for the first time in nearly a quarter century, the Packers were facing an injury situation at the quarterback position.

Let that settle for a moment.

Since the fourth week of the 1992 season, there have been a total of 3 quarterbacks who have started for the Packers: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Matt Flynn.

Three.

This statistic is the envy of every other NFL team. A model of consistency for success, and frankly, a lot of good luck.

Unfortunately for the Packers, this remarkable stretch of good luck came to an end Monday Night against the Bears, and has left the team, and its fans, entering uncharted waters.

So begins the Seneca Wallace Era in Green Bay, who will be trusted with the keys to the car while Rodgers’ recovers.

The first thing that everyone needs to deal with is the offense is not going to be the same with Wallace under center. It wont be. It’s a fact. And anyone who thinks it will be anything close to the offense Rodgers operates is kidding themselves.

Anyone who expects to see precision passing from a spread offense with Wallace needs to reevaluate their expectations. There is a reason Wallace isn’t a starter, and there is a reason he was unemployed until Ted Thompson called him after Training Camp was over.

But this does not mean that the season is over, and that fans should see nothing but doom and gloom on the horizon.

What is going to happen is the offense is going to change. It has to, because let’s face facts-Seneca Wallace isn’t Aaron Rodgers.

And that fact is what has so many fans nervous, scared, and downright pissed off about at the moment.

This team has dealt with adversity due to injuries for years. Every season it seems as though the injury bug plants itself at 1265 Lombardi Avenue for an extended stay.

This year is no exception. Clay Matthews, Jermichael Finley, Randall Cobb, James Jones, Brad Jones and Casey Hayward have all missed significant playing time due to injury. Others picked up the slack while they were on the mend, and the Packers played well enough to win.

Yet through all of these injuries, Rodgers was the constant. He was always on the field, leading the offense, leading the team.

And now he’s gone, for a few weeks anyways.

Nobody knows what these few weeks are going to bring for the Packers.

Some think the rest of the team will rise to the challenge and they can win at least a few games to stay in the playoff hunt until Rodgers returns for the stretch run.

Others think the season is hopelessly lost. No Rodgers equals no chance.

The one thing that is certain is the Captain has been removed from this ship, and we are all on board for a ride into uncharted waters.

Hold on tight, this could get a little bumpy.

---------------------

John Rehor is a writer at PackersTalk.com.

He can also be heard as one of the Co-Hosts of Cheesehead Radio.