RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas has heard all the talk about Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers being limited because of his torn calf muscle.
“I'm not buying into this leg issue,” Thomas said. “I saw him scramble close to the goal line on the Cowboys, so he's not fooling me with that. I'm not falling into that.”
One good leg or two, Thomas has the utmost respect for Rodgers, including this unusual compliment.
“You don't really see a lot of quarterbacks of his skin color with soul like that,” Thomas said. “I like it.”
Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor said he understands what Thomas is thinking in disputing the leg injury.
“That's the mentality you've got to have,” Chancellor said. “I'm not really concerned with his hobbly or wobbly calf, whatever. I’m concerned about Aaron Rodgers. If he's in that game, no matter how he's feeling, he's still Aaron Rodgers. He's capable of making plays, capable of getting the ball downfield, getting it to his receivers and just running their offense.
“So you've got to respect a guy like that. No matter what's wrong with him, you can't doubt him or say that it's going to be a little different because he's hobbly and wobbly. You don't want any surprises, so just go in with that mentality and you won't be surprised.”
Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright doesn’t plan to play Rodgers any differently.
“We’re going to treat him like he’s and healthy and 100 percent," Wright said. “I expect them to run the similar plays that they have in the past.
“We know he’s a little banged up, but he looked just fine to me in that last game. He was making most of his throws. He didn’t scramble as much and get out of the pocket as he’s done in the past, but for the most part, he’s making all of his throws and he looks just fine.”