Steelers' Mike Tomlin Gives Optimistic Update On Aaron Rodgers' Availability Against The Bills

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a tough loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 12, losing 31-28 after the Bears gave the ball back to the Steelers to give them a chance to drive down the field and send the game to overtime, and ultimately failing to get into field goal range. The Steelers' primary issue was on the offensive side of the ball, as they were unable to get any sort of momentum generated in the passing game with current Steelers backup quarterback Mason Rudolph being forced to start and not being able to push the ball down the field when needed.

Rudolph's inability to perform when the moment mattered the most is something that will definitely be discussed throughout the week, especially as current Steelers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to make a return to the football field sooner rather than later as he recovers from a wrist injury sustained last week. Rodgers' current status along with other pivotal questions were brought up earlier on Tuesday when Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin gave his weekly address to the media.

Tomlin was asked about an update to Rodgers' availability for their upcoming match against the Buffalo Bills, and it was one that should bring some encouragement for Steelers fans, despite the overwhelming odds against them.

"Optimistic about a couple of returns," Tomlin stated. "Aaron, obviously, worked his tail off to get to us last week, but as I mentioned over the course of the weekend, it was the prudent and appropriate decision. We'll start this week with great optimism, although we'll certainly limit him in the early portions of the week, provide opportunities for the other quarterbacks while preserving him, but again, we're comfortable with the general trajectory, but I'll keep you updated in his level of participation and the quality of his participation over the course of the week, will be the greatest indicator."

It certainly seems as if Tomlin believes Rodgers will start against the Bills this coming weekend, but is playing it safe with regards to his workload in practices to ensure Rodgers has the best chance of starting that the team can give him. It's definitely the best course of action the Steelers can take at the moment, considering Rodgers under center will give the Steelers the best chance to overcome the odds against them and defeat the Bills at home. Even when asked about the other players who could potentially return from injury, Tomlin seemed the most optimistic regarding Rodgers returning to action, which is a great sign for a struggling offense.

Tomlin's comments on Rodgers were much more optimistic than his latest comments on the defensive performance against the Bears as well, being distraught by the team's lack of effort on defense and urging the team to clean up the mistakes as the Bills come to town. The Steelers were able to force a turnover that became a touchdown on defense against the Bears, but the offense was unable to move down the field and score reliably when it mattered the most. 

Thankfully, the potential return of Rodgers into the offense should help to rectify that issue. Should Rodgers get the start against the Bills, even with an improvement to the passing game, another factor on the offense cannot be overlooked heading into this critical game.

Steelers Must Utilize Run Game Heavily Against The Bills

The run game for the Steelers worked very well against the Bears, and they need to continue to ride the hot hand against Buffalo. The Bills are the best team in the NFL at defending the pass, but the third worst team at defending the run. After the great game that Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell had against the Bears, they need to be utilized heavily against one of the worst run defenses in the league. Whether or not Rodgers returns, despite Tomlin's optimistic comments, the Steelers need to lean on their strengths against the Bills' biggest weakness.

What did you think about Tomlin's optimistic comments on Rodgers' availability against the Bills? Let us know in the comments below.

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