The Packers could sit Rodgers to not only protect him but to see what they have in Kizer, whom they acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns last March. Kizer started 15 games for the winless Browns last year but the only meaningful action he’s seen this season was in the opener, when he went in for Rodgers after the injury — and before Rodgers returned to lead the team to a 24-23 come-from-behind win over the Bears.

For his part, Kizer said Monday he’d been given no indication he might play against the Jets.

“(But) if my number’s called, it’s my duty to go out and show my best efforts and do whatever I possibly can to help this team win,” Kizer said.

Philbin acknowledged the final two games could be used to get longer looks at some of the other youngsters who have seen limited action, from tight end Robert Tonyan to wide receivers J’Mon Moore and Jake Kumerow and others.

“We’ll play the guys that are healthy and our plan is to go and play as well as we can Sunday at noon and win a football game, period. Whoever can help us at that end, that’s my main objective,” Philbin said. “If that changes, we’ll certainly deal with it then.

“There may be some merit with (key players sitting out). I don’t know. For me, it’s pretty much cut and dried, as far as I can see.”

Jason Wilde covers the Packers for ESPN Wisconsin. Listen to him with former Packers and Badgers offensive lineman Mark Tauscher weekdays from 9-11 on “Wilde & Tausch” on your local ESPN station.

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