With the Green Bay Packers eliminated from playoff contention, there was some thought that quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be shut down for the remainder of the season.

The Packers did that last year when Rodgers struggled to return, following a broken collarbone injury that he suffered early in the season. But interim head coach Joe Philbin plans to play Rodgers for Green Bay's last two contests before they wrap up another disappointing season.

"Again, I think it's bigger than Aaron Rodgers," Philbin said, via ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. "This is a football team...just like if players or coaches were to say, 'Geez I'd like to go home tonight and not prepare as hard for this game because we're not going to the playoffs,' I mean, that's not a professional approach to the job, I don't think."

Green Bay will visit the lowly New York Jets this Sunday, before wrapping up their season with a home contest against the Detroit Lions. The Packers fell 24-17 to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, which shut down their minimal chances of making the postseason in 2018.

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Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

It's expected that the Packers will make plenty of changes in the offseason, beginning with the coaching staff. Mike McCarthy was fired after a shocking Week 14 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and Philbin took over the reigns. unless the Packers really finish out these next two games on a high note, it's unlikely he'll remain head coach after this season.

The Packers also need to supply Rodgers with more talent at wide receiver, and the defense certainly needs upgrades as well. Otherwise, the NFC North rival Chicago Bears will dominate the division for the remainder of Rodgers' prime years.

What This Means

Well, starting Rodgers will certainly make millions of fantasy football users around the world happy. But on top of that, Rodgers and the Packers are simply playing for pride here.

Philbin is also trying to present himself as a worthy candidate to land the Packers' head coaching gig next season, so it makes sense for him to play the starters and see what he can get out of them.

NEXT: AARON RODGERS DESERVES A BETTER NFL TEAM THAN THE 2018 PACKERS