GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - The Chicago Bears have a better insurance policy than Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
Josh McCown, playing in place of the injured Jay Cutler, threw for two touchdowns Monday night as the Bears won 27-20 and ended a six-game skid to their NFC North rivals. The loss snapped Green Bay's four-game winning streak, but the far larger concern is the health of Rodgers, who hurt his left (non-throwing) shoulder when he was sacked on the first series by Shea McClellin.
Rodgers took a few warm-up throws with backup Seneca Wallace but, after being examined by medical staff, ran into the Green Bay locker room. He wasn't seen again until midway through the third quarter, when he came back onto the field in sweats. Though he waved to fans with his right hand, and didn't appear to be wearing a brace, he kept his left hand jammed in his pocket.
The win pulls the Bears into a three-way tie for first in the NFC North with Green Bay and Detroit, all at 5-3. The loss spoiled another big night by Green Bay rookie Eddie Lacy, who ran for 150 yards and a touchdown.
Green Bay has been hit hard by injuries, with James Jones (knee) returning Monday night after a two-game absence and sackmaster Clay Matthews (thumb) and tight end Jermichael Finley still out. Wide receiver Randall Cobb (leg) is also on the injured list-designated to return.
But there are injuries and then there are injuries, and a hurt Aaron Rodgers is Green Bay's ultimate nightmare.
McCown may not have been dazzling, going 22-for-41 for 272 yards. But he mixed his passes effectively to Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte, and Forte ran roughshod on the Green Bay defense - scoring one touchdown.