Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers has been dealing with a painful toe injury for several weeks. While for a long time there was even talk of surgery, the quarterback has now finally given the all-clear.

Munich/Green Bay – Even though the Green Bay Packers are enjoying a bye week in the first round, a regular practice was on the schedule for the leader of the NFC final standings on Wednesday.

Rodgers: Return to practice

Almost fully back in action here was quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been bothered by a lingering toe injury for weeks. The playmaker previously described it as extremely painful, so that he could hardly practice during the week in the second part of the season.

In order for him to make it through the games reasonably pain-free, he was given local anaesthetic injections into the affected area by the team doctors before the games. That, too, is apparently now a thing of the past.

“I haven’t needed one for a while now, that’s one of the most important signs,” the 38-year-old explained at a press conference on Wednesday: “It was a classic anaesthetic for the toe – very painful in any case. It helped me through the games,” said the veteran.

Because there was no improvement in sight before the turn of the year, there was even talk of a minor operation. However, as a potential loss of Rodgers would have jeopardised the season’s goals, the protagonists decided against it.

“Almost at one hundred percent”

The fact that he no longer needs painkillers is an important step towards full weight-bearing: “Actually, we wanted to do without it completely. That’s why I’m even happier that it’s been much better for a few games,” said last season’s MVP.

Rodgers, meanwhile, has no good news for the Packers’ potential opponents in the Divisional Round: “I feel very good again. I practiced today and I was almost at one hundred percent. Then next week I should crack that mark,” he concluded.

Despite the obvious limitation, Rodgers led his team to a record of 13 wins and four losses. With 4115 passing yards and 40 total touchdowns with only four interceptions, the Packers star is also considered a heavy favourite to win the MVP trophy this year.