Packers Morning Buzz: Will Aaron Rodgers be mobile enough to play?

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 couple of key health issues as they prepare for a crucial NFC North test against the Minnesota Vikings at noon Sunday.

We'll start with Ryan Wood's report on Aaron Rodgers' knee injury and how realistic the chances are of the star quarterback playing effectively.

Ryan writes:

The Packers aren’t saying whether Rodgers will play this week. If he does, it will catch nobody by surprise.

“He walks on water,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “So I’m sure he’s going to play.”

Rodgers said he wants to play. As he showed Sunday, there’s a low bar he must clear to be physically able. Rodgers was hardly mobile at all against the Bears, practically dragging his left leg each time he dropped back to pass. As NBC cameras highlighted, there was hardly any torque on his left, lead leg each time he threw.

Asked what physical requirements he needs to meet in order to play, Rodgers referenced mobility within the pocket.

Two of his touchdowns against the Bears were set up with subtle moves to avoid pressure. He stepped up in the pocket before throwing to receiver Davante Adams in the left flat. On the game-winning touchdown to Cobb, Rodgers sidestepped to the left so he could buy time when no receivers were initially open.

“Move around a little bit in a circle,” Rodgers said. “Small circle that I was moving in Sunday night. If I can get back to that, hopefully, a little better than that without pain, then hopefully I’ll be able to go.”

You can read the full story here:

Tom Silverstein wrote about how the Packers must respond to teams that try to neutralize tight end Jimmy Graham:

Jim Owczarski has details on another injury to a key offensive performer: wide receiver Davante Adams:

Jim discusses the Packers' injury situation with columnist Pete Dougherty:

Rookie inside linebacker Oren Burks is nearly ready to return, Silverstein writes in our Packers Notebook:

In Minnesota, the Vikings are wondering what kind of Rodgers they will see Sunday:

Rodgers recently visited with Brett Favre in Mississippi:

The U.S. Navy expects to conclude its investigation soon regarding the Lambeau Field fly-by during an August exhibition game:

Many likened Rodgers' return to action Sunday to that of former Knicks center Willis Reed, who famously started in Game 7 of the 1979 NBA Finals despite a torn thigh muscle. But Reed sees it differently:

Scouts tell ESPN's Rob Demovsky that the Vikings are better than the Packers at almost every position except quarterback (assuming Rodgers plays):

Acme Packing Co. looks at the best way for the Packers to attack the Vikings' defense:

Packers-Bears was one of several first-week NFL games attracting a ton of TV eyeballs:

Could Paul McCartney be the next big musical act to play at Lambeau Field?