Rodgers shows poise in his starting QB debut

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers shrugged off a shaky beginning as Brett Favre's replacement.

In his first start for the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers delivered a pair of scoring drives and a handful of highlights in a 20-17 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.

The Packers definitively handed Rodgers the keys to one of the NFL's best offenses after trading Favre to the New York Jets last week — ending an ugly, monthlong divorce with one of the most beloved players in franchise history.

And despite spending most of the past three seasons holding a clipboard, Rodgers didn't show many signs of nerves in his first step out of Favre's shadow. The Bengals tagged Rodgers for an early interception off of a deflected pass, but he recovered to complete 9 of 15 throws for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Rodgers was greeted warmly by fans before the game, with a significant portion giving him a standing ovation.

"I've always felt like we have the best fans in the NFL, and that they would support our team, regardless of how they feel about myself, or Brett, or management or whatever," Rodgers said. "But it was a great reception when we took the field."

Rodgers could have had a second scoring strike, but couldn't connect on a deep ball to wide open receiver James Jones on the Packers' third drive. On the next play, Rodgers threw a crisp 30-yard pass to Ruvell Martin on third-and-2 that helped set up a 37-yard field goal by Mason Crosby.

Carson Palmer finished the game 5-for-9 for 33 yards with a touchdown, connecting with tight end Ben Utecht for a 14-yard score early in the second quarter.

SMITH HAS CONCUSSION: The Carolina Panthers have returned to training camp without top receiver Steve Smith, who sustained a concussion in the preseason opener. Smith did not practice Monday. Coach John Fox said only that he's day-to-day. Smith was shaken up after making a leaping 19-yard catch in the first quarter of Saturday's 23-20 overtime win against Indianapolis. He continued to play, but quarterback Matt Moore said he knew something was wrong with Smith. The receiver was suspended for the first two regular-season games for breaking teammate Ken Lucas' nose in a fight during practice this month.

PATRIOTS WELL-STOCKED: The New England Patriots entered the offseason with a goal of trying to get younger and more athletic on defense.