Steelers Receive Glowing Report On Preparedness Of Quarterback Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have now gotten through two preseason games in 2025, and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers hasn't played any snaps. The Steelers' approach to sitting the four-time MVP has raised concerns among some fans, who believe that Rodgers may need to mesh with the team's new-look offense. However, according to one writer for the Steelers' official website, who attended training camp every day, there shouldn't be any concern at all.

Bob Labriola, in his weekly asked and answered segment, stated that he was highly impressed with the quarterback's preparation and control of the offense through 14 training camp practices.

"All I can tell you is what I saw every day during practice at Saint Vincent College," Labriola wrote. "Overall, I thought Aaron Rodgers looked in command and comfortable with the offense, and he was given only 1 day off over the course of 14 practices between July 24 and Aug. 12. Rodgers made some incredible throws, he moved around freely in buying time to make his throws, and he was as consistently on target as anyone I ever had seen in a training camp setting."

While it may be true that the Steelers have a lot of new faces on offense, including wide receiver DK Metcalf and rookie running back Kaleb Johnson, the preseason reps might not be as important to someone of Rodgers' caliber. The quarterback is a 20-year veteran who has no doubt seen his share of offensive change, and he isn't one that exactly believes that preseason football is "real football".

Rodgers clearly seems to believe that joint practices hold more value than preseason contest reps, and there's certainly some truth to that. Offenses and defenses have no interest in showing their entire playbooks in the preseason, and are much more likely to run basic plays to not give away any information to regular-season opponents. This isn't a concern in joint practice, as the practices aren't public, and the teams won't face each other in the regular season. 

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin appears to share the same sentiment, stating that he's not certain that Rodgers will play in the preseason at all.

"Hey, this guy has been doing this for 21 years. His cumulative snap total and what's required for him to be ready is different than others. And so if I'm not adaptable and open to adjustments relative to the needs of our guys, then I'm not doing my job."

Steelers' Rodgers Shows Major Improvement After Rocky Start

There was certainly some concern about Rodgers and what he can still bring to the table in 2025, and those concerns weren't quelled when the quarterback's first training camp pass was an interception.

Since then, Rodgers has by all accounts looked significantly better and more comfortable each week, and his connection with star receiver Metcalf continues to grow. 

It's to be expected that a team with an entire new identity would take some time to adapt to, especially one that is replacing the second most snaps in the NFL. Getting off to a fast start will be of the utmost importance to Pittsburgh, whose schedule gets significantly more difficult in the latter half of the season - facing the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Detroit Lions in a brutal 4 week December stretch. 

So is sitting Rodgers and the starting offense the right move for the 2025 preseason? It will certainly look that way if the team can start hot and the 41-year-old quarterback gets through the season unscathed. But if the team comes out flat, questions will be raised at Tomlin and the coaching staff on why the Steelers weren't more prepared.

What do you think about the starters not playing through the first two weeks of the preseason? Let us know in the comments below.

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