Mike Tomlin expressed optimism Tuesday about Aaron Rodgers returning from injury on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, but he still left the door open for another week of uncertainty. Aaron Rodgers further explained this week’s process Wednesday after practice.
“Aaron Rodgers says he plans to practice tomorrow and then see how he feels before determining how much he’ll go on Friday,” ESPN’s Brooke Pryor wrote on X. “Asked if it’s his understanding he needs a doctor’s clearance to play Sunday, he said it’s not his understanding.”
Aaron Rodgers says he plans to practice tomorrow and then see how he feels before determining how much he’ll go on Friday.
Asked if it’s his understanding he needs a doctor’s clearance to play Sunday, he said it’s not his understanding.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) November 26, 2025
That still leaves uncertainty but rules out the chance that a team doctor will be the one making the decision. Of course the doctors give input into his injury, but saying the doctors won’t have to clear him suggests it’s more of a pain tolerance and an on-field ability issue than anything else.
“Aaron Rodgers said he does not yet feel good enough to take a snap from under center,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo tweeted. “He was frustrated he could not play in Chicago and hopes for a better outcome this week.”
Aaron Rodgers said he does not yet feel good enough to take a snap from under center. He was frustrated he could not play in Chicago and hopes for a better outcome this week.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) November 26, 2025
All reports indicated that Rodgers was pushing the Steelers to play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Mike Tomlin told the media that his mind was made up by Saturday afternoon but didn’t get into specifics on what led to his decision other than Rodgers’ week wasn’t fluid from a preparation standpoint and that it was the prudent decision.
Tomlin also stated last week that Rodgers doesn’t need as much practice as others may need in order to be prepared to play. His 21 years ofNFL experience make that possible, but then part of Tomlin’s explanation doesn’t make as much sense.
Jay Glazer provided perhaps the clearest explanation yet on FOX NFL Sunday over the weekend after speaking to Tomlin. They were worried that the wrong kind of hit could turn a minor injury into a major one, which could could put Rodgers’ season at risk. If that’s true, I’m not sure what a handful of extra days has really done to change that reality.
For what it’s worth, Rodgers cited “time for healing” as one of the main reasons for optimism for a different result this week.
It’s hard to read between the lines of what is actually going on with Rodgers’ recovery. Did the doctors shut him down, or was it a team decision? Was he pushing to play, or did they come to a mutual understanding that it was too risky? Has anything really changed to cause a different outcome than just a week ago?
It seems like this is headed for another Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning decision.
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