Aaron Rodgers has COVID: What it means, what it doesn't, and why the stakes for Jordan Love are different than many expect

Aaron Rodgers set the NFL world ablaze after testing positive for COVID-19 this week, creating a bevy of questions and concerns for the Packers in the short and long term.

Coming off a massive road victory and a mini-bye week, the Green Bay Packers could have expected a relatively quiet few days as they began preparations for their Week 9 opponent. Instead, their world turned upside down.

Aaron Rodgers, the reigning MVP and engine behind the team's 7-1 start, tested positive for COVID-19, landing him on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

By itself, a positive test for a player of Rodgers' stature represents major NFL news. The Packers also garnered considerable attention when Davante Adams landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list a week earlier, a development that moved the betting line on that week's matchup with the Arizona Cardinals by three points. A quarterback, of course, has an even greater impact on a team's performance, and few have the skills and pedigree of Rodgers.

However, the Rodgers news quickly moved beyond the mere test results to his potential return date. The NFL treats COVID-19 cases differently depending on vaccination status, with vaccinated players allowed to return after two negative tests spaced at least 24 hours apart and unvaccinated players required to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days. Accordingly, when NFL Network reported that Rodgers would miss Sunday's matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs — a game four days away — it became clear the quarterback fell in the latter category.