NFL teams believe Packers should be forced to release Aaron Rodgers over IR move: report 

Multiple NFL teams are crying foul on the Packers over Aaron Rodgers’ return to injured reserve and want the league to force Green Bay to release the star quarterback as a result, according to a report.

ESPN reported Sunday that several unnamed teams have complained to the NFL because Rodgers came off the IR list only to be shut down for the season on permanent IR following his return from a collarbone injury in last Sunday’s loss to the Panthers.

The basis of the complaint is that Rodgers reportedly did not suffer a new injury. NFL rules state that a player needs to have suffered a new injury that would sideline him at least six weeks to be placed on IR. If that is not the case, the team is required to release the player once he is healthy.

Rodgers missed seven games after undergoing surgery to repair a broken right collarbone he suffered on Oct. 15 against the Vikings. The Packers officially activated him off injured reserve last Saturday so he could play Sunday in Carolina and try to keep Green Bay’s playoff chances alive.

Rodgers returned not fully recovered from the injury, and the 12 hits and three sacks he took didn’t help. Packers coach Mike McCarthy later said the QB was “sore” and in “rest and recovery mode,” though no new injury was announced. Rodgers threw three touchdowns and three interceptions in the game — the first time he’s been picked off that many times in a game since 2009.

On Tuesday, Green Bay placed Rodgers on season-ending IR after the Falcons’ victory over the Buccaneers on Monday ended Green Bay’s playoff hopes.

It’s possible that Rodgers could have played Saturday against Minnesota and next week against Detroit had the Packers still been competing for a postseason berth. However, a source told ESPN that Rodgers wasn’t going to be medically cleared to play against the Vikings.

The NFL has reportedly referred all inquiries to the Packers, who aren’t commenting.

The complaint is not expected to result in Rodgers’ release. Teams out of playoff contention regularly put players on IR for the final two games of the regular season, even if the players could have played in a game that had postseason implications.