Packers' Aaron Rodgers explains why playing just one series in a preseason game 'is a waste of time'

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Aaron Rodgers hasn't played in a preseason game for the Packers since 2018 and would be fine sitting out the entire preseason once again in 2022.

That said, he also isn't opposed to getting in-game action with Green Bay's offense. He just wants to make sure that if he does, it is meaningful.

The 38-year-old quarterback explained at Packers training camp Tuesday that if he plays in the preseason, he wants to play more than just one series. Why? Because he doesn't believe that type of limited action is beneficial, per ESPN.

I definitely don't see any benefit to playing one series. If we're going to play, we should play and play a quarter, a couple of series, two to three series. Just suiting up for four plays, to me, is a waste.

"I'm not saying this to send a message to Matt; I've already told Matt the same thing," Rodgers later added. "We'll see what happens when we get there."

The potential change to Rodgers' normal preseason routine comes in wake of major changes to the Green Bay offense. Former No. 1 receiver Davante Adams was traded to the Raiders, leaving the likes of Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins and Romeo Doubs to step into the roles as the team's top three receivers in 2022.

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Elsewhere, the offensive line is set to have several new starters, at least until tackles David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins return from knee injuries keeping them on the PUP list.

The Packers were already mulling changes to their preseason approach before these changes. After all, Green Bay was soundly beaten by the Saints 38-3 in a Week 1 blowout last season and that came after the team sat its starters for most of the preseason.

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Rodgers acknowledged that these factors have created a difficult decision for coach Matt LaFleur when it comes to resting or playing starters. Still, the quarterback made it clear that he would only want to play if it was for more than one series or a handful of snaps.

I think it's kind of a no-win situation to the outside of the building. If somebody gets hurt [it's], 'I can't believe they played our guys.' But if we go out and have a stinker [it's], 'I can't believe they didn't play them.'

You've just got to do what's best for the squad, and Matt's going to do that. He's going to lean on the leaders of the football team and if he feels like we need to go out and play, we'll go out and play. But I don't want to just go out and play three plays. That, to me, is a waste of time.

LaFleur has already announced that Rodgers won't play in either Week 1 or Week 2 of the preseason, so all eyes will be on his status heading into the final week of the preseason against the Chiefs.

It's understandable the Packers would want to protect their investment. Rodgers signed the most lucrative deal in NFL history to remain in Green Bay this past offseason. It's a deal with a AAV of $50 million. 

The Packers know what they've got in Rodgers, even if he doesn't get a lot of in-game reps with the new guys. 

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For now, LaFleur and the Packers are kicking the can down the road, deferring that decision to another day.

"We'll probably look at it after New Orleans," LaFleur said. "So don't ask me for a couple weeks."

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Jacob Camenker is a senior content producer at The Sporting News.