GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It was a chance encounter near the players' exit at Bank of America Stadium shortly after the Carolina Panthers beat the Green Bay Packers in December 2017, and Julius Peppers stopped for a chat.
Earlier that afternoon, Peppers sacked Aaron Rodgers. At the end of the play, Peppers appeared to adjust to avoid pulling down Rodgers with excessive force. Rodgers had just come off injured reserve that week after missing half the season with a broken collarbone. The Panthers' 31-24 win ended any hope that the Packers could make the playoffs, and Rodgers returned to injured reserve to finish the season.