Aaron Rodgers Says On Instagram He’s Cleared To Return To Packers [PHOTO]

Aaron Rodgers has been medically cleared to return from his broken right collarbone.

Aaron Rodgers injury recovery news

The veteran Green Bay Packers quarterback posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Tuesday night, ahead of his team’s game at Carolina on Sunday.

“It’s been a long road from that day to this, but I’m happy to say I’ve been medically cleared to return,” Rodgers wrote in his Instagram post. Thanks for all the love, support, prayers, and well wishes over the past 8 weeks ❤️ and a big thank you to Dr McKenzie and our incredible training staff. #riseagain #”

One day earlier, Packers coach Mike McCarthy revealed Rodgers underwent tests to assess how much his surgically repaired collarbone had healed.

“It is now in the evaluation stage,” McCarthy said late Monday afternoon. “Dr. McKenzie is reviewing it. There’s a number of medical opinions that will be involved in a decision, so at this time, I do not have a clean decision for you or an update. That’s where it stands.”

Rodgers broke his collarbone against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 15, when Anthony Barr struck him and landed on him after a pass. He returned to practice on Dec. 2, his 34th birthday.

Clay Matthews joked that Rodgers looked so great during the rehab process that there was no reason Green Bay should have put him on injured reserve.

“Well, if he comes back, like I’ve been saying, arguable the best quarterback in the league, back to your team, everyone is going to get better,” Matthews said after Sunday’s overtime win at Cleveland. “Not only him being out there, but also the shot in the arm as we talk about him coming back.

“Watching him in practice and what he’s been able to do these past couple weeks, getting more and more reps in practice and throwing on the pads, I think it’s a good sign. I’m not going to speak on his behalf, but we sure hope he’s ready and if he is, we’re going to expect the Aaron of old.”

Though he played just five weeks this season, Rodgers led the NFL in touchdown passes (13) and had tossed just three interceptions.

The Packers (7-6, 3rd in NFC North) lost at Minnesota when Brett Hundley replaced Rodgers, but Green Bay remains in the playoff race.

“My No. 1 thought going into it was keep our hopes alive to make the playoffs, and we’re still in it,” Hundley said.

Rodgers previously missed seven games when he broke his left collarbone in 2013, and the Packers went 2-4-1 in his absence. He did not undergo surgery that time and returned for the regular-season finale at Chicago. Green Bay won the NFC North after finishing the season 8-7-1.

ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass in the first half during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)