Aaron Rodgers isn’t starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers today, but he will be suited up with at least a small chance of entering the game. According to Gerry Dulac, he will serve as the Steelers’ emergency third quarterback.
In order to enter the game, both Mason Rudolph and Will Howard would have to get injured or be disqualified by the officiating crew. Here is the official rule from the NFL website.
“An Emergency Third Quarterback is permitted to enter a game only if the club’s two active quarterbacks are unable to play either by disqualification or injury, including for example, if QB1 is unable to play and QB2 is being evaluated for an injury.”
In the event he enters the game for a brief time, QB1 or QB2 would be permitted to return if they are cleared from their injury evaluations.
It’s very unlikely that Rodgers plays, but not shutting him down completely may be telling of his status moving forward.
It was a true game-time decision today, but the Steelers’ doctors reportedly didn’t feel comfortable clearing him to start. Apparently their apprehension didn’t result in fully shutting him down for the day, or he wouldn’t be the emergency third.
Reports all week indicated that Rodgers was pushing to play. With another game in seven days, it’s fair to question how they would have more confidence in his wrist injury just one week later than they do right now. But suiting him up as the emergency third QB suggests it was a very close decision. Ian Rapoport reported that he “should” play next week.
For now, Mason Rudolph will get the start and Will Howard will be just one snap away from entering an NFL game for the first time in his career. Rodgers will still be locked in from the sideline to help Rudolph.
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