Following a gritty effort in their last-second 31-28 loss to the heavily-favored Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers (5-6) remain optimistic that superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers can return to action this season if the team is still in contention for a playoff spot.

According to reporter Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy praised his quarterback's progress and commitment to his rehab, but wouldn't give an exact timeline for when he'd return to practice.

Rodgers, who is eligible to practice as early as Friday, won't be able to be activated from injured reserve until as early as Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers.

“We'll see,” McCarthy said on whether Rodgers can return to practice this week on Saturday. “I mean, he's still going through — there's a protocol, there's targets we're trying to hit each and every week. I think they're working [on it], and it's segmented. The A-No. 1 priority is to get him healthy. Practice is not something we're really focused on right now.

Without Rodgers, the Packers have limped to a 1-5 record since his devastating right collarbone injury suffered from a hit by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr.

Luckily, NFL fans got very excited on Sunday night when the two-time MVP was seen during a pregame workout at Heinz Field launching passes with ease, some of which Rodgers threw over 50 yards through the air.

A video of Rodgers launching a football down the field was posted to Twitter before the game by Dave Schroeder of WBAY-TV.

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