For nearly a year, Green Bay Packers fans waited with patient enthusiasm to see No. 12 step back onto the field for the first time. Following last year’s devastating collarbone injury in week six against the Vikings that left Aaron Rodgers sidelined for the remainder of the 2017 season, Mike McCarthy opted to sit the quarterback for almost the entire month of August, playing him for just four snaps in the second preseason game against the Steelers.
Resting Rodgers was the safe bet, because after all protecting the franchise player at all costs is always the goal.