Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ first preseason game of the year is only a few hours away. There’s a lot of excitement, but it’s still unclear who exactly will play. Specifically, it’s uncertain if Aaron Rodgers will suit up. Mike McCarthy said that Rodgers wants to play, but the quarterback sounded less enthusiastic when asked about the preseason. Former NFL executive Louis Riddick thinks there’s no need to put Rodgers in danger in tonight’s game.
“I think 22 years in, the benefits for Aaron Rodgers playing one-to-two series is slim,” Riddick said recently on ESPN’s NFL Live. “It’s ridiculous, really, to even have the conversation about what benefit does it have for Aaron. It doesn’t have any. Do you need to see how he reacts to being under the bright lights and whether or not he gets nervous? No.
“Do you really think that Aaron needs to see what basic Cover 3 and Cover 2 and a basic over front looks like? No… For Aaron, it wouldn’t even be a discussion for me. Just put your hat on, we’ll see you on Monday in the team meeting.”
It’s been a while since Rodgers saw meaningful time in the preseason. He appeared in two games in 2017, throwing a total of 13 passes. Rodgers hasn’t done much in the preseason since then, though. He attempted eight passes in 2023 and four in 2018.
It might not be a bad idea to have the four-time MVP do something similar, playing one drive just to shake any rust off. However, Rodgers said that McCarthy wants him to play 30-40 snaps in the preseason. That seems a little extreme. To Riddick’s point, what is that going to do for Rodgers? He doesn’t need to get his feet wet in the NFL. He’s as experienced as a player can be.
Also, the Steelers have other young quarterbacks that could benefit more from preseason action. Rodgers said it’s not real football, and while the final score doesn’t matter, the game is still important for Will Howard and Drew Allar. Neither of them has ever played in an NFL game.
Therefore, those reps could be better served helping Howard and Allar gain more experience. Rodgers isn’t just a veteran. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. While he’s not in his prime anymore, he’s still got a wealth of knowledge. He didn’t play in the preseason last year, and he didn’t have any problems in Week 1. It might be wiser to play it safe and sit Rodgers in the preseason.