The Pittsburgh Steelers had one major concern coming into the 2025 season, and that was keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers upright and healthy in order to get through the full season. The organization has not done a great job of that over the last several weeks, and the four-time league MVP suffered a wrist injury in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday that kept him in the locker room during the entire second half.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
It was first reported on Sunday night that Rodgers had what was thought to be a slight break in his left wrist, which is his non-dominant wrist. It happened after he was hit while throwing the ball in the second quarterback of the win over the Bengals, and his availability moving forward is in question. NFL insider Tom Pelissero was able to provide an update after the quarterback underwent further testing.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers underwent further tests Monday that confirmed he won’t need surgery on his fractured left wrist, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 18, 2025
Rodgers is pushing to play Sunday at Chicago. But doctors must clear him and his status moving forward is TBD. pic.twitter.com/Zp7ChP2tK0
The good news is that the further testing was able to let the organization know that it is just a slight fracture and no surgery is needed. This keeps the door open for Rodgers to play against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, all he needs is to be cleared by a doctor. This is something to keep an eye on throughout the week, especially since Rodgers has a lot of history with the Bears.
Ryan Meyer / Cincinnati Bengals
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers prepares to take a snap during a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.
Rodgers has had some great moments playing against the Bears throughout his career. He has been known to "own" the Bears as he used to play them twice a season while with the Green Bay Packers. He definitely has a little bit of an extra motivation to get on the field for this game, especially with the game being in Chicago.
The veteran quarterback being able to play is going to come down to whether or not he can grip the football and take snaps. As long as his wrist fracture does not affect his play in any way and he is able to put in a good week of practice, there is no reason to think he couldn't start this game. He will surely have some sort of brace and wrap on the wrist, and if he does end up playing the Steelers are going to have to make sure the quarterback continues to be protected. That means a better performance from the offensive line, and some schematic changes.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Could Stick With Mason Rudolph In Chicago
Mason Rudolph filled in well for Rodgers when he initially got hurt, and he could be the starter for Pittsburgh on Sunday for the first time since the end of the 2023 season. Rudolph showed that he can be trusted to lead the offense for a handful of drives, and it might be more beneficial for the franchise as this would allow Rodgers to rest and recover while getting back to full health. The most important stretch of the season is coming up, and it is extremely important that Rodgers is going to be as healthy as possible for some of those tougher games.
What do you think of Rodgers' chances to play on Sunday? Let us know in the comments below!
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