Packers Morning Buzz: Big plays a byproduct of Aaron Rodgers' injury?

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

The Packers face a crucial NFC North test when they host the Minnesota Vikings at noon Sunday.

We'll start with Ryan Wood's story on how injuries that reduce Aaron Rodgers' mobility can be both negative and positive for the Packers' offense:

Ryan writes:

As in 2014, Rodgers’ injury is on his left leg. That should help Rodgers drive the football downfield because as a right-handed quarterback, his right leg is responsible for generating lower-body power on throws. With a good right leg, Rodgers was able to get enough from his lower base to fling a 39-yard touchdown pass to receiver Geronimo Allison, a ball he released from the 46-yard line to the opposite corner end zone.

The Packers also can limit Rodgers’ mobility presnap. They put Rodgers in pistol and shotgun formations against the Bears, preventing him from dropping back under center. That will likely continue Sunday against the Vikings. So long as Rodgers plays in the foreseeable future, his mobility will be limited.

But Rodgers can still be effective in the quick-passing game.

“That’s what the offense is built off of,” Bakhtiari said. “We love the extended plays and all the miraculous things he can do because he can do it anywhere from any point in time on the field. It doesn’t matter what the situation or the fundamental flaw he’s in, he can drop a dime anywhere he wants.

“With (the quick-pass game), it’s keeping the defense more on its heels, and I think that’s where those big plays can come from.”

You can read the whole story here:

Pete Dougherty and Eric Baranczyk write about the emergence of Geronimo Allison as a steady weapon at wide receiver:

Pete and Eric also have position-by-position grades from the opener:

Packers coach Mike McCarthy regrets putting backup quarterback DeShone Kizer in a difficult situation that could have been disastrous had Green Bay lost Sunday:

Packers receiver Randall Cobb brought the game ball from Sunday home to share with his infant son:

Here's a look at how Twitter reacted to Rodgers' magic act:

Peter King of NBC Sports makes the case for why this was the greatest game Rodgers ever played:

The MMQB looks at why Rodgers was so much more effective after injuring his knee than he was before it:

Clay Matthews wouldn't have slept well if the Packers hadn't overcome his blunder and stopped the Bears on their final drive:

Packers rookie backup quarterback Tim Boyle bought an Aaron Rodgers jersey, writes Rob Demovsky:

Rodgers lets loose as a DJ in his latest IZOD commercial:

Rodgers clearly numbers NBA royalty among his admirers: