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Did Aaron Rodgers lie about getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

Well, uh, this is pretty awkward.

Aaron Rodgers is reportedly out this Sunday when the Packers play the Chiefs after he tested positive for COVID-19.

That led to a whole bunch of questions about Rodgers’ status for Sunday and how we actually got here. Per the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, had he tested positive for COVID but was vaccinated, there was a legitimate shot that he might be able to play on Sunday. All he’d need to do is test negative consecutively and be asymptomatic.

But NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Rodgers as straight up out on Sunday against the Chiefs. Not questionable. Not doubtful. Just out.

This led to the questions about whether Rodgers is actually vaccinated or not, which he seemed to indicate was the case to reporters back in August.

Now, it looks like Rodgers may have been lying. Or, at the very least, misleading people with his language. None of it looks good.

It’s a lot to keep up with, I know. So here’s a quick breakdown of what Rodgers has said, where we stand today and the questions we have moving forward.

So, wait, Aaron Rodgers isn't vaccinated?

Well, it’s unclear at this point. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting with Mike Garafolo that Rodgers is, indeed, unvaccinated.

While it’s unclear whether this is true, it is worth noting that Rodgers has been declared out for Sunday’s game with seemingly no chance of playing. If he was vaccinated, that wouldn’t be the case.

But, wait, didn't Rodgers say he was vaccinated before?

That’s what we all thought. Back in August as the season was inching closer and closer, reporters were asking players about their vaccination status and where they stood on the COVID-19 vaccine.

Rodgers told reporters back then that he was “immunized.” This was on August 26.

Hearing Rodgers’ comments here, you could easily leave that press conference thinking he took the shot. Vaccinated and immunized are generally used interchangeably.

But he also told reporters then that he wouldn’t judge players if they weren’t actually vaccinated.

“I’m not going to judge those guys…There’s guys that have been vaccinated that have contracted COVID, so it’s an interesting issue that I think we’re going to see played out the entire season.”

That’s one of the general arguments folks make for not taking the vaccine.

Wait, don't tell me this is a semantics thing. Did he say 'immunized' to avoid questions?

It looks like that might actually be the case. Rodgers never actually said he was “vaccinated” on the record.

When the reporter asked him the question, he distinctly answered with the word “immunized” and not vaccinated. And, again, they are generally used interchangeably. But, per Rapoport, in NFL terms immunized does not mean vaccinated.

So it seems that Rodgers may have misled a lot of people with this.

Wow. That's...that's pretty messed up if it's true.

Yes. Very messed up. Lying to people, in general, is a bad thing. But doing it when it’s about something as serious as COVID-19 is even worse.

If Rodgers did lie that leaves us with a lot of questions about his season so far. Did he lie to his teammates as well? Did the organization know this? Has he been following unvaccinated player protocols or have they been treating him as if he’s vaccinated?

This could be a huge deal moving forward — not just for Sunday’s game but for the rest of the Packers’ season.

How are people taking it?

They’re rightfully furious.

 

So what happens from here?

We have no idea beyond the fact that we know Rodgers isn’t playing Sunday. What comes after that is a total mystery.

Let’s hope that it involves Rodgers actually getting the shot this time.

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