Aaron Rodgers claims Packers aren’t “tanking” after failing to do trade

Before the trade deadline ended, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers were expected to be aggressive in their pursuit of acquiring a playmaker.

With many star players like Chase Claypool, James Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Kadarius Toney, and TJ Hockenson traded, the Packers weren't able to land anyone to help out Rodgers and the receiving game.

Many experts and fans thought that the Packers would have landed another target for Rodgers.

Through Pro Football Talk, Rodgers made it clear that despite the Packers not making any moves around the trade deadline to improve the team, the Packers are not tanking.

"My hopes are always up in life. You know, I'm an optimistic person. And obviously the compensation or whatever players that we were going after, it just didn't make sense. So I trust Brian and we had some good conversations. I know that we were in on some things and then obviously just didn't pan out. That's not my area of focus.

"There's no tanking. There's no rebuild. This is a team that is expected to get the job done. So it's on us as players and also coaches to make sure that, you know, we're doing everything we can to win football games."

While Aaron Rodgers has made it clear that the Packers are not in a re-build mode but a win-now mode, they have struggled mightily this season. Through eight games, they are 3-5 and tied for the second place in the NFC North, behind the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings.

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers made an attempt at wide receiver Chase Claypool

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Pittsburgh Steelers

The Green Bay Packers reportedly went after wide receiver Chase Claypool before the NFL trade deadline.

They offered the Pittsburgh Steelers their second-round pick for Claypool, but the Steelers declined. Instead, they took the Chicago Bears' offer for their second-round pick, with the belief that their pick will be higher.

As regards Aaron Rodgers, in eight games this season, he has recorded 1,800 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions. While his numbers aren't bad, they aren't translating in the win column. Also, he hasn't played to the same standards as the last two years which saw him win back-to-back MVP awards.

There is still a lot of the current season left, and the Packers and Aaron Rodgers can certainly go on a run and remind the world about how good they are.

If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Pro Football Talk and H/T Sportskeeda