With Aaron Rodgers’ injury status up in the air, the Pittsburgh Steelers have an important decision on their hands. Rodgers has been solid for most of the year, but has looked more uncomfortable in recent weeks. Now, he’s dealing with an injury to his left wrist, one that’s casting doubt over his status for Sunday’s matchup against the Chicago Bears.
However, Kurt Warner doesn’t expect it to be much of a problem, as a quarterback who’s dealt with injuries to his non-throwing arm before.
“I think the biggest challenge, just from a playing standpoint, would be handoffs,” Warner said Wednesday on The Rich Eisen Show. “When I dislocated my left elbow back in ’07, I handed off with my right hand in both directions. Without a doubt, I think that’s something Aaron Rodgers could do and get comfortable with. It didn’t take long to figure that out. And then, security of the football with both hands, what does that mean for that? When it’s your off hand, and I would assume they do something to help with the pain part of it, there’s not a whole lot that’s going to throw you off, outside of those little things.”
On one hand, the Steelers have Mason Rudolph and the option to rest Rodgers. It would make sense if they want to preserve him for a playoff push. There are still six games remaining, and the Steelers can’t afford Rodgers reaggravating that injury, which could happen any time he goes down. Rudolph’s ability to navigate the offense, once coming in last week, would make the Steelers feel more comfortable in that scenario.
On the other hand, these are the types of games the Steelers brought Rodgers in for. Cold, potentially ugly games against a talented team on the road, a team Rodgers has dominated throughout his career.
And from Rodgers’ standpoint, he’ll undoubtedly want to play. There’s no guarantee that he’ll play next season, and that’s if he even wants to. There’s a very real chance he only has seven games left in his NFL career. In that mindset, it would probably be hard for him to agree to rest this week.
Based on Mike Tomlin’s words, there’s reason to believe he’ll play. He already wanted to come back into last Sunday’s game, but the Steelers declined. This week, Tomlin mentioned that Rodgers’ feeling in himself will be a factor regarding his status. We already know Rodgers will want to play, so that’s something Tomlin will have to take into consideration.
If he does, there may be some limitations. Handing the ball off both ways with one hand will feel weird, but it’s nothing a 21-year vet can’t get familiar with. However, every time he falls, Steelers fans are going to wince in fear of another wrist injury. And even something as simple as taking a snap under center could be uncomfortable.
Aaron Rodgers is attempting to practice through his injury on Thursday. However that goes will be a significant factor in whether he plays or not. Based on his own previous injury, Warner thinks Rodgers will be able to manage if he does play.
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