GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not receive medical clearance after sustaining his second concussion of the season and was ruled out for tonight’s game at New England.
Matt Flynn, a seventh-round draft pick out of LSU in 2008, is expected to make his first career start for the Packers.
As of Saturday, Rodgers had not progressed through the NFL’s full protocol of testing needed before a player returns to the field after sustaining a head injury. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said earlier in the week that the team would err on the side of caution in determining Rodgers’ status.
The Packers also signed quarterback Graham Harrell from their practice squad and placed safety Anthony Smith on injured reserve.
Rodgers sustained a concussion, his second this season, in last Sunday’s loss at Detroit. He did not practice with the team last week.
“He’s working his way through the process,” McCarthy said. “There are stages that you work through. But he’s making progress.”
Favre to sit again
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — After an NFL-record 297 straight starts, 321 including the playoffs, Brett Favre has a new streak. He’ll sit out for the second game in a row.
The Vikings declared Favre out for Monday night against Chicago after another week without enough progress on the sprained joint between his shoulder and neck. Interim coach Leslie Frazier said Favre tried to throw before practice Saturday, but he couldn’t do it without pain.
That means rookie Joe Webb will start against the Bears, recently signed veteran Patrick Ramsey will back him up and R.J. Archer could be elevated from the practice squad for more depth.
Footnotes
The Patriots signed cornerback Tony Carter off the practice squad and released defensive back Chevis Jackson.
Carter had been on the practice squad since September. He was released by the Broncos near the end of the exhibition season.
Jackson was signed by the Patriots as a free agent last week.
• The 49ers placed linebacker Travis LaBoy and kicker Joe Nedney on injured reserve, ending their season.
