The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping second-round WR Germie Bernard can make an immediate impact in 2026. If history is any indication, that can be difficult with Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback. Even some of his most trusted targets, including Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams, produced relatively quiet rookie seasons before blossoming into stars.
According to Bernard, Rodgers is doing everything he can to break that trend and maximize their season together.
“He’s just teaching me the game. He’s helping me catch up,” Bernard said at his youth camp in Huntsville, Ala., via FOX54 News. “He sees that I have the potential to play, and so he’s pouring into me as much as I can, and I just ask questions and I try to learn and be a sponge as much as I can, and receive what they’re telling me because they know the best.”
Pittsburgh traded up in the second round to draft Bernard, arguably the most NFL-ready receiver in the class. He has experience playing inside and out and runs a complete route tree. That all matters to an extent, but only if it translates to the way Rodgers likes things done.
Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offense is built on timing, which demands precision from both the quarterback and receivers. Routes are defined down to the yard, and execution has to match exactly. A seven-yard hitch isn’t six yards or even six and a half—it’s seven on the mark.
That’s just the beginning of Rodgers’ high expectations for his receivers. Another hurdle is learning his many pre-snap hand signals and checks at the line of scrimmage. A 21-year veteran like Rodgers can’t take advantage of his wealth of knowledge if receivers aren’t checking into the right hot route.
It’s almost impossible to perfect that chemistry with Rodgers in one year. Just ask Roman Wilson, whose supposed breakout season ended in several games as a healthy scratch for a combination of the reasons stated above.
The good news? Rodgers truly does everything in his power to expedite the process. According to Cris Collinsworth on a broadcast last year, he put in four nights per week outside of required team practice to meet with his receivers and go over all the fine details.
If Bernard truly is as NFL-ready as described, he could enjoy a rare breakout rookie season under Rodgers. Those have happened before. Rodgers’ last notable rookie he worked with was Christian Watson, who caught 41 receptions for 611 yards and seven TDs in 2022.
With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. ahead of him, Pittsburgh doesn’t need that kind of production from Bernard. They need him to be better than Wilson was last year in a similar circumstance.
The very fact that Rodgers sees that potential in him is a positive sign for Pittsburgh.
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