Reality set in Monday after the Green Bay Packers were eliminated from the NFL playoffs for the second consecutive season after losing to the Chicago Bears 24-17 at Soldier Field on Sunday.
The Packers stand 5-8-1, 1-1 under interim Head Coach Joe Philbin who will lead the team into their final two games, against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium this weekend before the home finale against the Detroit Lions on December 30.
The best fate for the Pack will be seven wins but it will mark the first time in 27 years the team has had to endure back to back seasons with losing records.
Philbin realizes motivation will be a challenge for a team simply playing out the string, but he wants every player to lean on professionalism right through the painful finish line.
(Audio: Joe Philbin)
The health of individual players will be a factor in determining whether the coaching staff wants to take a look at younger back ups, Aaron Rodgers included.
Rodgers said in Chicago he wants to play the last two games, despite dealing with a sprained knee most of the year and injuring his groin midway through the Bears game.
Defensive tackle Kenny Clark missed the Chicago contest with an elbow injury but he also hopes to get back on the field again.
That might not be the case for running back Aaron Jones. He apparently suffered an MCL sprain against the Bears in the second quarter and did not return. No official word on the severity of the injury was announced by the Packers but a pretty good indication Jones is done for the year came when the Packers added a running back.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst claimed Kapri Bibbs off waivers from the Washington Redskins on Monday. Bibbs was released after appearing in 10 games this year. He originally signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State in 2014. He's appeared in 26 games in his career, rushing for 309 yards and catching passes for 305 more. He's also returned kickoffs.
The NFL on Monday announced reserve offensive lineman Alex Light has been suspended one game for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Light, a rookie free agent from Richmond, will sit out the Jets game. He will be allowed to return to the roster next Monday and be eligible to play against Detroit. Light has taken part in just three offensive snaps all year.
