Aaron Rodgers Steelers
Aaron Rodgers Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers went all in on the 2026 season under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy, spending a significant amount of cash on an aging roster in an effort to compete for a Super Bowl.
More than 20 new players are on the 53-man roster ahead of the season opener Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, and it is the oldest roster in the NFL. As such there are some questions about the Steelers’ ability to truly compete this season, particularly with a 42-year-old quarterback in Aaron Rodgers.
Fortunately, it won’t all be on Rodgers’ shoulders. The Steelers added a number of proven veterans across the board to plug key holes, like Rico Dowdle at running back, Michael Pittman Jr. at wide receiver, Jamel Dean at cornerback and Jaquan Brisker at safety.
Top to bottom, the roster looks strong. The only issue so far is that the Steelers have been banged up throughout training camp, and the group hasn’t played much together. That has Rodgers, who appeared on the “Not Just Football” podcast with Cameron Heyward that published Tuesday, preaching some patience early in the season.
“I think we’re gonna be a work in progress to some extent, but I think the talent is there,” Rodgers said, according to video via the show’s YouTube page. “I think schematically, we’re good on both sides of the ball. We’ll see what happens with special teams.
“Just make it even on special teams. Don’t lose the game, that’s all I’m asking. We got a damn good kicker though.”
The talent is definitely there on both sides of the football. While there are questions about what Rodgers still has left in his 22nd NFL season, he’s back in a familiar scheme under McCarthy, reuniting with his former head coach of 13 years in Green Bay, where he won a Super Bowl and two of his four NFL MVP awards.
He also has some big-time weapons to work with in the passing game, with Pittman and rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard joining DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Meanwhile, Dowdle and Jaylen Warren will form a dynamic 1-2 punch in the backfield.
Defensively, the Steelers appear to be in great shape across the board under first-year coordinator Patrick Graham. Though DeShon Elliott’s injury and trip to injured reserve is concerning, things seem to be pointing up for the defense. Depth is great in the trenches, the front seven appears improved, and the secondary has a lot of talent.
They just need time to jell.
Where Rodgers seems to have some concerns is on special teams, which is understandable coming out of the preseason. Those concerns aren’t in the kicking game with Chris Boswell or punter Cameron Johnston. But with a rookie returner in Kaden Wetjen having some issues with ball security and some challenges in kick and punt coverage in the summer, Rodgers seems somewhat skeptical.
“Boz is Boz. He is a good kicker and Cam can punt the hell out of it…but I think we’re gonna be a work in progress,” Rodgers reiterated. “We’ve got a new offensive scheme, and we haven’t had all of our guys. I’m excited to see the one-two punch of Jaylen and Rico and see how that shakes out because they’re both super dynamic players.”
It’s going to take some time for the Steelers to get up to speed with each other once everyone is back in the fold. The training camp injuries really hindered some of that developmental time. Fortunately, they have a quarterback who is a master within the new scheme and can be the rising tide that lifts all boats, particularly on offense, early in the season.
Everyone else just has to do their jobs, especially on special teams. It’s a vital part of the game, and the Steelers can’t lose games there under first-year coordinator Danny Crossman, especially early in the season.