GREEN BAY, Wis. (Nov. 20, 2006) -- The Green Bay Packers lost a quarterback for the season. It wasn't Brett Favre.
Aaron Rodgers broke his left foot during the Packers' game against New England and is out for the rest of 2006, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. Rodgers had replaced Favre, who hurt his elbow earlier in the game.
Rodgers will need surgery. He broke his foot scrambling in the third quarter, but played the rest of the game, finishing 4 of 12 for 32 yards.
"On a personal level, you feel terrible for him, because the first thing you think about is here's a guy who has been here since March 20, he's been here every day going through the quarterback school, getting ready to potentially be the starter for our football team," McCarthy said. "He finally gets the opportunity to play and that happens to him."
Favre, starting his 251st game including playoffs, injured a nerve in his elbow after getting sacked just before halftime in the Packers' 35-0 loss. He couldn't muster enough strength to adequately grip the football for the rest of the game.
McCarthy said that Favre has most of the strength back in his elbow, but he wasn't ready to say the three-time MVP would practice this week.
"I think his elbow is going to be fine," the coach said. "He's been in for treatment for both the elbow and the groin and we'll re-evaluate him Wednesday, but he doesn't seem very concerned about it."
The team's doctors were comfortable with Favre's ability to return for next Monday night's game against Seattle because of the quarterback's demeanor, McCarthy said.
"He's not very worried about it, which to them is a clear indication because he's been through this so long. They trust his judgment based on their history with him," he said.
The Packers' No. 3 quarterback is rookie Ingle Martin, who was drafted in the fifth round. McCarthy said the team could elevate Martin or look for a more experienced quarterback to back up Favre.
"We're looking at every scenario right now," he said.
Rodgers, selected with the 24th pick of last year's draft, was sacked three times in his first extensive action since he relieved Favre last year in a 48-3 loss to Baltimore.
