Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed Wednesday’s practice with thumb and rib injuries, while Chicago Bears counterpart Justin Fields was limited as he deals with a separated non-throwing shoulder.

Will the pair oppose one another Sunday in Chicago as they did during the Packers’ 27-10 home romp in Week 2?

Things look to be trending that way, but it may not be official until shortly before kickoff at Soldier Field.

What is certain: the Packers (4-8) and Bears (3-9) are reeling as they renew the NFL’s most-contested rivalry.

Green Bay has lost seven of eight, while Chicago enters on a five-game skid, including three losses by one possession.

Given the Packers’ success with Rodgers under center over the past decade-plus, it’s the rare meeting between the teams in which there’s more at stake with draft positioning than playoff seeding.

Still, Green Bay is harboring slim postseason hopes, as well, needing to win out while hoping for help.

“I think we’re always trying to develop and look for opportunities to get some guys in there that you might not know about, but I think right now the focus is 100 percent on winning this football game and doing whatever it takes,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.

The Packers have won the past seven games in the series. Their bid to extend the run to eight figures to include Rodgers, as LaFleur said his expectation is for Rodgers to play in Week 13.

Rodgers left in the third quarter of the team’s 40-33 loss at Philadelphia last week with injured ribs. Rodgers, who already had been playing with a broken thumb, said he struggled to breathe and move his upper body.

While the Packers scored in the 30s for just the second time this season, it wasn’t enough as Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts rushed for 157 yards while throwing for 153 more and two touchdowns.

If healthy, Fields, a developing dual threat who rushed for 410 yards from Weeks 9-11, surely would present matchup nightmares for a scuffling Packers defense. Fields has recorded both a passing and rushing touchdown in five straight games, but missed last week’s loss to the New York Jets.

“We’d be foolish not to plan for Justin,” LaFleur said. “Because if you don’t, you will get gutted. That quarterback run game they have is pretty spectacular, and it doesn’t even always show up just in the run game, but just on his ability to drop back and if nothing is there to find a window and an escape lane and make you pay in that regard.”

Fields said he is “feeling better each and every day.”

Bears coach Matt Eberflus announced Wednesday that safety Eddie Jackson (foot) would miss the rest of the season. He was among several Bears injured in the Jets game.

Injuries to offensive linemen Riley Reiff (back) and Larry Borom (ankle/knee) may create an opening for right tackle Alex Leatherwood to make his first start as a Bear.

“We are excited and intrigued to see where it goes because he is a heck of an athlete at that position and we’ll see where it goes from there,” Eberflus said.

–Field Level Media

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald will not play Sunday due to a high-ankle sprain that could lead to Los Angeles shutting him down for the rest of the season.

Donald, 31, has never missed an NFL game due to injury, meaning the seven-time All-Pro would be sitting for the first time Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Donald missed two games in 2017 due to a contract holdout.

“That’s what makes Aaron, Aaron,” McVay said. “He’s unbelievable. I mean to be able to play through that, the toughness, everything that he embodies is what you love about Aaron.”

Donald was injured in the first quarter last week but remained in the game, a 26-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

With a five-game losing streak and a 3-8 overall record, Los Angeles has only one win since Sept. 25. A rash of injuries isn’t helping the Rams’ mood.

Wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson II are on injured reserve, and quarterback Matthew Stafford (concussion) played only two of the team’s four games in November.

McVay said Wednesday it was “safe to say” Stafford, 34, would miss Week 13.

–Field Level Media

Running back Joe Mixon participated in Wednesday’s practice with the Cincinnati Bengals after being idle last week due to a concussion.

The Bengals (7-4) host the Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) in a rematch of the AFC Championship game won by Cincinnati, 27-24 in overtime. The teams also met in a 34-31 shootout in Cincinnati won by the Bengals in Week 17 last season.

Mixon has 158 carries for 605 yards and six touchdowns this season with 41 receptions for 314 yards and two scores as a receiver.

Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase also continued to progress toward playing in Week 13, which would be his first game since the Bengals’ 35-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 23. After limping off the field, Chase returned to play in the second half, then was shut down until limited practice participation last week.

Mixon also missed the Week 12 win over the Tennessee Titans due to a concussion. Head coach Zac Taylor said Mixon remains in concussion protocol, but the final step was participation in the workout Wednesday.

Chase, 22, has 47 catches, 605 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns over seven games. He led the Bengals in all three categories before his injury, with Tee Higgins since passing him in receptions (57) and yards (826).

Chase made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021, catching 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns in 17 starts.

In the Week 17 matchup with the Chiefs, Chase caught 11 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

The Chicago Bears signed quarterback Tim Boyle off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad Wednesday.

Starter Justin Fields was limited in practice Wednesday with his injured left shoulder and backup Trevor Siemian did not practice due to an oblique injury sustained during pregame warmups on Sunday.

Boyle previously played with Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy when both were with the Green Bay Packers during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Head coach Matt Eberflus said Fields would split the starters’ snaps at Wednesday’s practice with third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman. He said Fields and Siemian are considered day-to-day.

Siemian started Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the New York Jets and passed for 179 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

It remains to be seen who will be under center for the Bears (3-9) against the Green Bay Packers (4-8) on Sunday at Soldier Field.

The Bears, Eberflus said, are not expecting any surprises from the Packers despite Aaron Rodgers’ rib injury.

Boyle, 28, was 0-3 as a starter for the Lions last season. He has completed 64 of 98 passes for 541 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions in 16 games with the Green Bay Packers and Lions.

–Field Level Media