GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Packers star Aaron Rodgers was sacked twice as defenses dominated a scoreless first quarter between Green Bay and the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.
Green Bay got a scare when Rodgers appeared to hurt his right arm while being sacked during the Packers' second possession. The ball slipped out of Rodgers' hand awkwardly as he tried to throw a pass on the next play, and backup Graham Harrell started warming up on the sideline, but Rodgers went back in on the next possession.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler also was sacked twice, and neither offense threatened to score.
Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings was inactive after hurting his groin late in Sunday's loss to San Francisco.
Bears cornerback Charles Tillman played despite a shin injury, and Brian Urlacher was on the field despite having surgery on his left knee during training camp.
It's the 185th edition of the NFL's oldest rivalry. Coming into Thursday night, Chicago held an overall 92-86-6 edge in the series, including a pair of playoff games. The Packers had won four straight and six of the last seven, including the playoffs.
The Packers were coming off a 30-22 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Green Bay struggled to stop the 49ers' balanced offense and came into a short week of preparation still looking for answers in the secondary.
On offense, the 49ers' dominant defense held the Packers to seven points in the first three quarters before a late rally attempt came up short.
A loss Thursday would put them at 0-2 — with both games coming at home, something that seemed unthinkable for a Super Bowl favorite coming into the season.
Chicago came into the season with high expectations for a beefed-up passing attack, and the arrival of wide receiver Brandon Marshall was a hit right away. Renewing his partnership with Cutler from their days in Denver, Marshall caught nine passes for 119 yards and a touchdown and the Bears put up 41 points in their season-opening victory over Indianapolis.