The Pittsburgh Steelers are expecting a lot from Aaron Rodgers' last ride, but there are some concerns surrounding him. The main one is his well-documented disdain for younger receivers that are trying to learn how the NFL works. The main one expected to be affected by that is second-round rookie Germie Bernard, who is very aware of this aspect of his new quarterback. Currently, he is seen as a backup, and expectations are that that will be his role throughout the 2026 season unless someone ahead of him gets injured.
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Steelers' Germie Bernard catches a pass during the offseason ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Obviously, there's a lot for Bernard to work on, and both he and his quarterback know that. During a post-practice press conference, Rodgers gave some nice reviews about the rookie, but he also made sure to note one point of emphasis for him.
"He's so sudden; he's got phenomenal hands..." Rodgers said. We just need him to be super confident and play as fast as he can."
It's definitely intimidating and somewhat frightening to be a receiver on Rodgers' team. There's probably some level of fear right now for Bernard as he reportedly is not on the same page as his quarterback yet. As everyone saw in the end of 2025, anyone who can't get on that same page ends up in the doghouse and replaced by someone who is more experienced and more capable of learning how to do things that the 42-year-old wants.
When the thought of your quarterback yelling at you seeps into your head, it can be tough to play with total confidence, especially for a rookie receiver. There's no question that Bernard has the talent to play and the versatility to earn the respect of his coaching staff, but he needs to push these bad thoughts out of his head and just play ball.
What really makes it frightening for Bernard is the lack of chances he will have in the passing game early on. He likely won't see the field a lot in passing situations unless someone needs a breather, so every rep he gets is amplified. If he does well in limited reps, he can get on Rodgers' good side quickly. If he makes a critical mistake or two, he might just fall down the depth chart and see even less playing time.
Getting on the same page as Rodgers is much easier said than done. There could be plenty of positive reports about the two players from training camp, but when the regular season begins, all bets are off. Any little miscommunication could spell disaster for Bernard. That's why it's so hard to play fast and get out of his own head. If he manages to do all that, then there's no doubt that he has a bright future.
Steelers May Be Forced To Give Bernard More Reps To Begin 2026 Season
Over this past week, starting receivers DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. have suffered injuries. While the exact details have not been announced just yet, this is still not a great sign. At the very least, the Steelers may want to limit both of their workloads to begin the season just to make sure they don't aggravate anything. The veteran wideouts will be a big key to Pittsburgh's sustained offensive success in 2026.
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Pittsburgh Steelers star WRs Michael Pittman Jr. (11) and DK Metcalf (4) during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in 2026.
That means Bernard could see an increased workload to begin the season, constantly rotating in for the outside starters and keeping them fresh. If that ends up being the case, that would be the perfect opportunity for him to get an extended look and do what he needs to make sure he gets on Rodgers' good side. That could decide whether he gets more or less in-game reps once Metcalf and Pittman fully recover from their injuries.
What do you think about Rodgers telling Bernard to play with more confidence, as well as the 42-year-old being very hard on players like him? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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