Aaron Rodgers’ status for Falcons game unclear

Flowery Branch — Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a right shoulder sprain last week, did not practice Wednesday and will not practice Thursday.

However, the Packers stopped short of announcing him out for their game against the Falcons on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

“We decided after his evaluation with our team physician that we’re going to have him jog through today and tomorrow,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “So he will not throw Wednesday or Thursday. Then Dr. [Patrick] McKenzie, who’s our team physician, wants to look at him Friday and make a determination on what his workload will be for practice on Friday.

“I want to give him every opportunity to play in the game.”

Rodgers, the heir to Brett Favre in Green Bay, has the Packers off to a 2-2 start. If Rodgers is not able to play, McCarthy will turn to rookie quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm.

Flynn, a seventh-round draft pick from LSU and the 12th quarterback selected in 2008, beat out Brohm, a second-round pick from Louisville, for the backup quarterback job. Brohm was the third quarterback selected in the draft behind Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco.

“We actually worked Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm today,” McCarthy said. “Matt got the majority of the reps. I’m going to try to get both of these guys ready.”

Rodgers plans to play if cleared by the doctors.

“I’m going to be conscious of the way my body is feeling and listen to what the doctors have to say,” Rodgers said. “It’s my desire to play. I’m just hoping that my body is going to allow me to play.”

Rodgers was just one of 13 players on the Packers’ injury report, including key starters linebacker A.J. Hawk (groin), cornerback Charles Woodson (broken toe), tackle Chad Clifton (knees) and safety Atari Bigby (hamstring).

Cornerback Al Harris (spleen) is out, and defensive end Cullen Jenkins (chest) was placed on injured reserve.

Also, Kregg Lumpkin, of Stephenson High and the University of Georgia, has a hamstring injury and did not practice.

“Injuries are the part of the game and you never want to see them happen to your friends and teammates,” Rodgers said. “But we have a very deep team. Somebody has to step up in the absence of some of our regular starters.”

Injury update

Falcons safety Lawyer Milloy (ribs), left tackle Sam Baker (concussion/illness), wide receiver Laurent Robinson (left knee), defensive tackle Jason Jefferson (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday.

Defensive tackle Grady Jackson (knee) and left tackle Todd Weiner (knee) were limited in practice.

“Lawyer is feeling a lot better today,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He ran around a little bit. Sam worked on the side with trainers.”

Streak stopped

Falcons running back and kick returner Jerious Norwood had a streak of six games where he topped the 100-combined yards mark snapped last week against Carolina.

Norwood had 89 combined yards against the Panthers (51 yards rushing, 1 receiving, 37 on kickoff returns).