GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is addressing comments made about his COVID-19 status after he tested positive for the virus last week.
Rodgers says he’s taking ‘full responsibility’ for comments to the media early this year that made many believe he was vaccinated against COVID-19.
“I do realize I am a role model for a lot of people,” Rodgers said during an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’. “I made some comments that that people might have thought were misleading, and you know, to anybody who felt misled by those comments, I take full responsibility.”
Rodgers earlier this year told reporters he was “immunized” against COVID-19. After coming down with COVID-19 last week, Rodgers admitted he was not vaccinated.
“I made a decision that was in the best interest based on consulting with my doctors,” Rodgers said. “I understand that not everybody’s going to understand that, necessarily.”
Rodgers said he rejected the vaccine due to an unspecified allergy to an ingredient in the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. He refused the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to concerns raised earlier this year over blood clots, which temporarily caused the FDA to halt the distribution of that vaccine. It’s since been reintroduced.
The comments led to him losing his long-standing endorsement from Prevea Health.
Rodgers told McAfee that he’s tuned out much of the noise.
“I’m not spending time reading things that are out there,” said Rodgers. “I know there is a lot of stuff out there. I know there have been a lot of comments said. I understand that that this issue in general is very charging for a lot of people.”
He says he’s turning his attention to getting ready for Sunday’s matchup at home with the Seattle Seahawks, although it’s not clear if Rodgers will get the start over backup Quarterback Jordan Love.
And, in late Tuesday development, the Green Bay Packers are being fined for violating the NFL and NFL Players Association’s COVID-19 Protocols. The team has been fined $300-thousand for its violations. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers along with wide receiver Allen Lazard were each fined over 14-thousand dollars.
Rodgers missed this past week’s game against Kansas City due to being in COVID protocols, but is hoping to be back on the field Sunday when the Packers play the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. .
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