The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to face off against the Chicago Bears in a Week 12 game that may be crucial in the tight AFC North division race. With that in mind, all eyes remain on whether star quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be able to suit up in the important matchup.
Rodgers’ status remains up in the air after suffering a left wrist fracture in the team’s Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. While the injury doesn’t appear to be a long-term concern for Pittsburgh, it could result in Rodgers being held out of Sunday’s game.
The former MVP did not practice on Wednesday, further raising questions about his potential availability. These questions also didn’t get all that much clarity from Rodgers when he spoke to the media after the team’s practice session.
When asked directly when he may know whether he can or can’t play for his team, Rodgers opted to share how the final call will ultimately come from head coach Mike Tomlin.
“I’m gonna leave that up to Mr. Coach Tomlin,” said Rodgers.
Not having a four-time MVP like Rodgers would certainly be a pretty big blow for a Steelers in a matchup against a very tough opponent like the Bears.
Fortunately, it seems as if Rodgers is going to try his best to suit up on Sunday, telling reporters that he will attempt to practice in some capacity.
“We'll try to get back on the field tomorrow and see what we can do," said Rodgers.
Whether Rodgers suits up on Sunday or not, the Steelers seem to have a serviceable option at the quarterback position in the game based on what we saw in Week 11.
After Rodgers was forced to leave due to injury, Mason Rudolph performed adequately as his replacement, completing 75 percent of his passes and playing mistake free football en route to a 34-12 win.
Stakes are quite high for whoever is ultimately the starting quarterback for Pittsburgh in Week 12. The Baltimore Ravens have closed the gap in the division standings after four straight wins.
A loss for the Steelers in Week 12 along with a Ravens win would result in a tie at the top of the division. So regardless of who is under center for Pittsburgh, it will be crucial for the team’s long-term ambitions to put together a solid performance and give them a good chance to come away with a victory.
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