Packers rule Rodgers won’t play against Falcons

The Packers ruled quarterback Aaron Rodgers out for Sunday’s game against the Falcons at Lambeau Field.

Rodgers will miss his fourth full game since suffering a fractured collarbone early in Green Bay’s game against Chicago on Nov. 4. The Packers (5-6-1) lost against the Bears and have three losses and a tie in the four games Rodgers missed.

Matt Flynn is expected to start at quarterback. Flynn started against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day and was 10-of-20 passing for 139 yards and an interception while taking seven sacks.

The Packers signed Flynn to a free-agent contract Nov. 12 after quarterback Seneca Wallace was placed on injured reserve. Green Bay selected Flynn in the seventh round of the 2008 draft, and he flourished as Rodgers’ backup before he flopped in stints with Seattle in 2012 and Buffalo and Oakland earlier this season.

“Matt Flynn is a guy who came in to play for Aaron and cashed in and traveled a little bit. Now he’s back in Green Bay,” Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said before Rodgers was ruled out. “We know he can play, too, and he will be looking to bounce back from his performance on Thanksgiving.”

With Rodgers out, the Packers have tried to score by leaning heavily on running back Eddie Lacy. The Falcons can expect to see a heavy dose of the powerful rookie, considering their tackling issues.

“Yeah, you can look at it like that,” Falcons safety William Moore said. “But you’ve got to remember Flynn is familiar with the offense. He’s able to run the same thing as Aaron, it’s just Aaron is more mobile, I’d say. They are definitely going to go to (Lacy), regardless of who is back there.”

Weatherspoon fined: The NFL fined Weatherspoon $15,750 for his hit against Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel in the first quarter of Sunday's Falcons victory. Weatherspoon was penalized for roughing the passer on the play.

Moore expected a fine for his hit against Bills wide receiver Robert Woods, which drew a penalty for unnecessary roughness. But the league did not dock Moore, who has been fined five times this season for illegal hits.

“I guess I have go to work on the way I hit and try to fit into the rules,” Moore said before he learned he escaped another fine. “I’m not frustrated at all because they set the rules way before the season, and I’ve got to follow them. I’m not special.”

Injury report: The Falcons listed tight end Tony Gonzalez (toe) and safety Zeke Motta (hand) as questionable to play against the Packers. Both played against the Bills and participated in practice on a limited basis this week.

Falcons coach Mike Smith gave updates on four players on injured reserve during an interview Friday on 790 the Zone.