Aaron Rodgers Broderick Jones
Getty
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers defended the team's offensive line and Broderick Jones on Wednesday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line dropped three spots in Pro Football Focus’ rankings of the unit after season opener struggles. The Steelers allowed four sacks and averaged 2.7 yards per carry against the New York Jets. But quarterback Aaron Rodgers defended the Steelers offensive line in front of reporters Wednesday.
Rodgers took blame for the sacks and expressed confidence in the group up front protecting him.
“I don’t think I was moving all that well. I think I kind of ran into one or two sacks, so I gotta do a better job of using my legs,” Rodgers told reporters, via Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders. “I might be old, but I still feel like I can move around pretty good, and I wasn’t moving the way I like to move.”
The Steelers offensive lineman facing the most immediate criticism after Week 1 was left tackle Broderick Jones. But in addition to the line as a unit, Rodgers showed individual support for Jones on Wednesday.
“I really like Brod. I got to know him during training camp. I like what he’s about,” Rodgers said. “I like his attitude. He’s a genuinely positive guy. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him watching my back.”
Aaron Rodgers Blames Back Tightness for Poor Mobility
Most pundits didn’t blame Rodgers for the sacks the team allowed in Week 1. Even Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has clearly stated multiple times since the conclusion of the game the protection in front of Rodgers needs to be better.
But protecting his teammates through the media is what great quarterbacks do, especially when it comes to the offensive line. That’s exactly what Rodgers did when he addressed Jones and the line Wednesday.
“I thought the protection was good for most of the game,” Rodgers said. “There’s a couple fundamental things to clear up, but Pat’s going to take care of those guys, and I just got to get the ball out.”
Rodgers referenced the main reason why most pundits don’t expect him to be very mobile this season — his age. But the quarterback said he dealt with back tightness during the season opener, which contributed to his lack of mobility.
The veteran quarterback wasn’t on the official injury report for Week 1.
Steelers Offensive Line to Face Another Tough Test vs. Seahawks
Jones and the Steelers offensive line had the difficult task of blocking Jets defensive linemen Will McDonald and Quinnen Williams in the season opener. Things won’t necessarily get any easier.
Seahawks edge rushers Leonard Williams and Derick Hall combined to have 19 sacks last season. That’s more than what McDonald and Quinnen Williams combined to post in 2024.
McDonald regularly beat Jones on Rodgers’ blindside in Week 1. McDonald posted two of the four sacks for the Jets.
In Week 1 versus the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks posted just one sack. Williams and Hall had four combined pressures.
PFF ranked the Steelers at No. 24 on its Week 2 offensive line rankings on September 10. That was down three spots from where the Steelers line was rated ahead of the season opener.