After missing one game due a fracture in his left wrist, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is expected to return Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. While Rodgers sat out Wednesday’s practice and the team hasn’t officially announced he will start, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes Rodgers will suit up.
“It seems like Rodgers is in fact tracking to start as Mike Tomlin said earlier in the week,” Rapoport said on NFL Network Thursday morning.
Immediately following last Sunday’s game and again during his Tuesday press conference, Tomlin believed Rodgers would return for this weekend. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Rodgers said an extra week allowed for more time for his injury to heal. Tomlin told Jay Glazer the concern was had Rodgers played against Chicago, he could’ve suffered a displaced fracture that would’ve knocked him out for the rest of the season.
Rodgers will take the practice field today in the hopes of functioning more effectively.
“Which he will do today to see if he can take snaps under center,” Rapoport said of Rodgers’ return to practice. “But optimism in Pittsburgh.”
Around the same time, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer also reported the Steelers expected Rodgers to start against Buffalo.
Glazer is close with Mike Tomlin and is usually solid on his Steelers info.
Rodgers practicing fully would be the strongest sign yet of returning to game action. Last week, he was limited Thursday and Friday though it’s unclear exactly how many reps he missed. NFL rules dictate anything less than 100 percent of normal reps must deem the player as “limited.”
Pittsburgh will release its Thursday injury report later today and its final one Friday afternoon. Like last week, Rodgers could be listed as questionable. Or the team could list him without a game status with the expectation that Rodgers will start. If Mike Tomlin mirrors what he did last week, he’ll provide an update Friday ahead of the team’s final report.
If Rodgers starts, Mason Rudolph will return as the No. 2 while rookie Will Howard will serve as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback. If Rodgers can’t make it back, Rudolph will get another chance. No matter who starts will face a Bills’ defense ranked No. 1 against the pass with a balanced pass rush and emerging secondary stars like rookie safety Cole Bishop.
Recommended for you