The first of a few more obstacles for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers en route to his recovery and return to football was conquered Saturday morning -- on his 34th birthday, no less.

According to NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport, Rodgers practiced with the team on Saturday, officially designating him as a player to return from injured reserve.

#Packers QB Aaron Rodgers practiced today, source said, and he’s officially designed as a player to return off IR. This is the next step in the process. Rodgers still isn’t cleared and won’t even be scanned until after the #Browns game. Many hurdles to go.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 2, 2017

The Packers used their first of two return designations on offensive tackle Jason Spriggs a couple of weeks ago and are expected to use their second on Rodgers, given whether or not the bone in his clavicle is healed enough and the team clears him.

Rapoport added, "Many factors will go into him actually playing — including the scan, the team's standing. Today, he practiced a little and obviously not with the first-team. It merely means he hasn't had any setbacks. He's on schedule."

Rodgers said at the beginning of November in his first locker room interview almost three weeks after the injury that the bone must be on-track for a return to even be in the cards.

"It's going to come down to the bone healing," he said. "That's the most important thing. ... If it heals and we're in the right position, then there's a conversation. If the bone isn't healed, there's absolutely no conversation to be had."

According to former NFL team doctor, David Chao, MD, Rodgers' collarbone won't be 100 percent until six-months after surgery, which took place on Oct. 19 -- just a day before the Packers placed him on IR. However, with the 13 screws and two plates inserted to help stabilize the bone and quicken the healing process, Rodgers will be able to return at his target date: Dec. 17 against the Carolina Panthers.

That is if the Packers are still in playoff contention.

Quarterback Brett Hundley has the reins for the next two weeks -- much like he has for the last five -- and must do his part in helping ensure a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday and the Cleveland Browns next week. If Rodgers returns and the Packers manage to win their final three games -- against Carolina, Minnesota and Detroit -- then a 10-6 record has a roughly 90 percent chance of getting them into the playoffs.

Rodgers will have a scan done on the clavicle after the game against the Browns to determine where it is healing-wise and whether or not he'll be able to suit up the following Sunday in Carolina. He must be on IR for at least eight weeks.