Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will play Sunday against the Bears

GREEN BAY (WITI) --  Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has confirmed QB Aaron Rodgers WILL play this Sunday, December 29th vs. the Chicago Bears. McCarthy, during a Thursday afternoon news conference, said Rodgers will be the starting quarterback on Sunday.

Rodgers has been sidelined since he suffered a collarbone fracture in a game against the Bears in early November.

Coach McCarthy said Thursday the team had hoped to have a decision regarding Rodgers on Tuesday -- but Rodgers' evaluation and communication among team leaders was not completed -- so the decision was pushed back to Thursday.

McCarthy said the team was notified of the decision early Thursday morning.

“We’re preparing for the Chicago Bears with Aaron Rodgers as our starting quarterback,” Coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday. “I would say he’s ready to play.”

“We feel it’s time for Aaron to play,” Coach McCarthy said. “We need to go down there and win this game as a team. This is a decision everyone was waiting for. We wanted to get this done on Tuesday.”

"Aaron is very important to our team. History defines that clearly," Coach McCarthy said Thursday.

The Packers take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon, December 29th at Soldier Field in a HUGE game that will determine who is the NFC North Champion — and will grant the winner a playoff berth.

For the losing team on Sunday -- the season is over.

The game on Sunday, December 29th marks the second time in the last four seasons (2010) that the divisional rivals, Packers and Bears have squared off in the final game of the season.

The Packers are currently second in the NFC North behind Chicago -- but can clinch their third straight division title and their fifth straight playoff berth with a win over the Bears.

Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. on Sunday — and you can catch the game RIGHT HERE on FOX6!