Packers QB Aaron Rodgers breaks collarbone, could miss rest of season

MINNEAPOLIS - The Green Bay Packers’ hopes of winning a Super Bowl have absorbed an enormous dent. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was playing some of the best football of his terrific career, suffered a broken right collarbone Sunday in a 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Shortly after halftime the Packers announced Rodgers could miss the rest of the season.

The injury thrusts backup Brett Hundley into new and uncharted waters. Hundley, a former fifth-round pick from UCLA, has never started a game in the National Football League and had never played a meaningful snap in the regular season until Sunday.  

The play that knocked Rodgers out of the game was an incomplete pass to tight end Martellus Bennett, who dropped what looked like a perfect throw. Rodgers had rolled out of the pocket to his right and was hit by linebacker Anthony Barr after the release.

Rodgers remained down on the field for a brief period of time as medical personnel rushed onto the field near the Packers’ bench. Eventually, he walked off the field under his own power and into the blue medical tent seen on every NFL sideline this season. Rodgers was barking at the Vikings' defense on his way off the field.

He was quickly evaluated in the medical tent before riding to the locker room on a cart.

SILVERSTEIN:Hundley, rest of offense will have to share burden

DOUGHERTY: Unless Rodgers returns, Packers' season over

In 2013, Rodgers suffered a broken left collarbone against the Chicago Bears and missed seven games. He returned for the regular-season finale against the Bears.

The Packers faced third and 9 after the injury to Rodgers, and backup Brett Hundley was ushered onto the field for the first meaningful snap of his career. Coach Mike McCarthy called for a simple handoff to tailback Aaron Jones rather than asking Hundley to convert immediately on third and long. Jones was stopped short of the marker to force a punt.

Hundley's first pass was intercepted by Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes, setting up a Minnesota touchdown.

BOX SCORE: Vikings 23, Packers 10

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Hundley's next pass was completed to receiver Davante Adams for an 18-yard touchdown, tying the game 7-7. But that would be the Packers' only TD of the day. Hundley finished 18 of 33 for 157 yards and was intercepted three times.