GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy tried to make it crystal clear Saturday that Aaron Rodgers is the team's starting quarterback, whether or not Brett Favre decides to return from retirement and play football again.

McCarthy answered questions about Favre at his season-opening news conference in Green Bay, and he left open the possibility that the 38-year-old Favre will be back.

Favre, who retired last March, would have to petition the NFL commissioner for reinstatement first, then pass a physical.

Most talk in recent days has indicated the Packers would try to trade Favre if he returned.

But McCarthy said if Favre gets reinstated, he'll be on the Green Bay roster. If that happens, the coach said Favre most likely would be limited at first to doing individual drills in practice or working out with players who are rehabilitating injuries.

Players report to camp Sunday and workouts start Monday.