GREEN BAY, Wis. – Aaron Rodgers isn't wasting many opportunities this season.

The Green Bay Packers quarterback is on track for the fewest pass attempts in his career when he has played a 16-game regular season, yet he's on a career-best accuracy pace.

Through three games, Rodgers has completed 73.6 percent of his throws. In his most accurate season, he finished at 68.3 percent. That year, 2011, he was at 71.8 percent through three games.

"I just think he's in a groove," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday.

Rodgers and four other quarterbacks -- Ben Roethlisberger (75.3 percent), Tony Romo (75.0), Philip Rivers (74.5) and Tyrod Taylor (74.4) -- currently have a higher completion percentage than the NFL single-season record set by Drew Brees (70.62 percent) in 2009. Injuries to Roethlisberger and Romo probably will prevent them from having enough attempts to qualify, while Rivers and Taylor seem less likely to keep up their pace than Rodgers.

"We worked at it maybe more than we have over the years," McCarthy said. "They've really been in sync, the whole offense and Aaron being in sync with the receivers. He's making great decisions. He's always been a high ball-accuracy player. That's nothing new."

To be sure, Rodgers has not taken as many shots down the field without deep-threat receiver Jordy Nelson (out for the year with a torn ACL). According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rodgers has attempted only two passes that have traveled more than 30 yards in the air so far this season. Last year, he averaged 1.2 such attempts per game and has averaged as many as 2.1 per game in other seasons.

James Jones' ability to reconnect with Rodgers has played a significant part in the quarterback's accurate start. Jones has caught 12 of the 15 passes Rodgers has thrown his way.

"We're very thankful James Jones was there at the end of the cuts," Rodgers said. "I think that he's proven he was a good guy to bring in."

Rodgers also has quickly gained a trust in rookie Ty Montgomery, who's a perfect 6-for-6 with a touchdown on his targets.

Rodgers chalked up the offensive precision to improved communication thanks in part to a subtle change in where the players sit on the bench during games. The entire offense now sits on the same end of the bench instead of having the offensive line on the left side and the receivers and running backs on the right.

"I think everybody is communicating a little better," Rodgers said. "I think that helps because you can transfer some of the stuff they see on the pictures over into the actual game."

But it all comes back to Rodgers.

"He's just so competitive," Packers right guard T.J. Lang said. "He's a guy who, I don’t think he's ever satisfied with what he does. He wants to go out there, and he wants to get better every week. That's the kind of guy you want leading your team."

The way Lang sees it, Rodgers' approach has a trickle-down effect.

"It's really contagious to the rest of the team," Lang said. "And it really makes everyone else pick up their level of play, their level of preparation."