Steelers' Germie Bernard Has Path Paved For His Success In Critical Rookie Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers have heard the noise about it possibly being a mistake that they brought back quarterback Aaron Rodgers for one last ride. One of the biggest gripes about him, as well as one of the more accurate ones, is the fact that he does not get along well with players on their rookie contracts. For a team in transition that has gotten much younger since the start of the 2025 season, that is not a great sign. Pittsburgh does need youth, but it also needs someone who can handle it well. 

Good news may be on the horizon for one of these young men. In his latest column for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, insider Ray Fittipaldo revealed exactly how rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard can get on his quarterback's good side in 2026.

"When picturing Bernard’s future role in the Steelers' offense, think Randall Cobb in those high-scoring Packers offenses when Rodgers and [Mike] McCarthy were together in Green Bay," Fittipaldo said. "Cobb had excellent run-after-the-catch ability, and Bernard offers the same type of skill set for the Steelers' offense. He can work the short and intermediate parts of the field as a receiver and he has the added ability of playing as a hybrid running back and running the ball on jet sweeps."

Even after he left the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers has felt a sense of comfort when his former teammates follow him to his new team. Of course, Randall Cobb is in no position to make an NFL comeback, but maybe Bernard will be able to emulate his game on the field and use that ability to build some level of trust and chemistry with his new QB.

The Steelers do need someone to step up in that WR3 role. As of now, Bernard should have the inside lane to that. He definitely still has a lot to learn at this stage, but as long as he has a solid training camp and can find a way onto Rodgers' good side, he should be starting sooner rather than later. If he can play like Cobb, he may be on the field for the first play of the 2026 regular season.

It also helps his case that Bernard's competition is someone that Rodgers has proven to have difficulty with thus far. Roman Wilson spent nearly all of 2025 in the doghouse for reasons unknown, but the odds of him doing a complete 180 and earning everyone's trust again is slim. Those two players had very little chemistry last season and it led to Wilson being benched for two veterans, including a former Packer. Perhaps with a brand new coaching staff in 2026, things can change.

Steelers May Not See Bernard Immediately Earn Rodgers' Trust

It would be great if Bernard could emulate Cobb's game, but doing so is still easier said than done. Most of the time, rookies are just trying to figure out how everything works at the professional level. Meanwhile, Rodgers has his own particular way of doing things. It frustrates him when these young players don't catch on quickly, and it leads to tension and drama, like what happened with Wilson. 

That is a lot to put on Bernard's plate immediately. Even if he does beat Wilson for the WR3 role, that doesn't necessarily mean Rodgers will make an effort to feature him in the offense. The bar to earn the respect of his quarterback is extremely high, and he has a very short amount of time to make that hurdle. If he can't do it, his rookie season may be seen as a wash as opposed to a sign of what's to come.

What do you think about Bernard having the ability to emulate Cobb's game to get more targets from Rodgers? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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