Packers Morning Buzz: Aaron Rodgers planning to play through pain

Welcome to your game-day Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

The Packers host the Minnesota Vikings in a crucial NFC North showdown at noon Sunday.

We'll start with two published reports from overnight that quarterback Aaron Rodgers plans to play today (although ESPN reports that the Packers still want to have him work out on the field before making a final call). Per an ESPN source, Rodgers doesn't have ligament damage but rather more of a "compression injury from blunt force while bent":

Rodgers reportedly impressed the Packers with his ability to move around in the pocket during practice Saturday, according to NFL Network:

Pete Dougherty looks at Jimmy Graham and how the Packers' veteran tight end can have a huge impact on a game even when his numbers would indicate otherwise.

Pete writes:

The stat sheet says Jimmy Graham didn’t do much in the Green Bay Packers’ season-opening win over the Chicago Bears last week.

But the stat sheet (two catches for eight yards), if it doesn’t lie, surely misleads.

Graham didn’t make any plays, that much is true. But the threat that he might changed the way the Bears defended the Packers. They weren’t going to let the Packers’ new tight end beat them.

It showed up on three of the game’s biggest plays –Aaron Rodgers’ 39-yard touchdown pass to Geronimo Allison, Davante Adams’ 51-yard catch and run, and Adams’ 12-yard touchdown reception. On all three, Graham’s presence alone occupied the Bears’ defense – either via double teams or drawing a safety match-up – that opened the field for Allison and Adams to make their plays.

The NFL season is long, and last Sunday night isn’t likely to be Graham’s norm. Besides affecting game plans, he’ll have to make his share of plays for the Packers to be a top-scoring team.

You can read the rest of the piece here:

Tom Silverstein updates Rodgers' status from Saturday:

Silverstein also writes about Davante Adams and how he has learned to use footwork to defeat opposing cornerbacks:

Jim Owczarski looks into the challenges facing Packers backup quarterback DeShone Kizer:

Jim and Tom Silverstein discuss the risk of having Rodgers face the Vikings:

Mike McCarthey's faith in his running game leads our Packers Notes:

Here are our predictions and 5 Things to Watch for Sunday:

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk explores the impact that Rodgers' ambiguous playing status has on the gambling world:

At SI.com, Andy Benoit looks at the kind of pressure the Vikings may bring to bear on Rodgers:

Spoiler alert: Aaron Nagler of Cheesehead TV likes the home team (if Rodgers plays):

Acme Packing Co. breaks down the numbers of how the Packers should defend against Kirk Cousins:

The Power Sweep says this could be a turning-point game:

Packers great Jerry Kramer will receive his Hall of Fame ring Sunday:

Pro Football Focus looks at a big opening game for Packers slot receiver Randall Cobb:

Cornerback Davon House will join safety Josh Jones on Monday night for "Clubhouse Live":

A tough break for former Packers All-Pro guard Josh Sitton: