Week 5 is likely to be the most important one for Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Germie Bernard to date. The second-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft has not received too many opportunities early in his career. Now, with Michael Pittman Jr. expected to miss multiple weeks, the first-year pass-catcher will need to step up in the veteran's absence. This is no easy task, particularly because of who is playing quarterback. Aaron Rodgers has never been shy about being hard on any of his wideouts, regardless of tenure. There aren't going to be any exceptions made for the former Alabama star, either.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) runs with the football as the team works out and goes through a drill during a 2026 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Bernard will have some guys ahead of him such as DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson. However, the youngster will still be seeing more snaps with Pittman on the sideline. It could be his time to shine. The challenging part will be earning the trust of Rodgers in a game-like setting. The quarterback already probably has an idea of his faith in Bernard based on recent practices.
The Steelers haven't been able to truly figure out the wide receiver position in recent years. This is exactly why the excitement surrounding Bernard is legitimate and warranted. The time to have a couple of breakout games might begin in Week 5 versus the Indianapolis Colts. He had a respectable performance in Week 2 when he hauled in four receptions for a total of 35 yards.
Rodgers isn't going to make it easy for Bernard, though. That was made very clear on Friday when wide receivers coach Adam Henry spoke with the media. There is plenty of intrigue when it comes to the rookie pass-catcher. So, his positional coach made sure to compliment him when speaking up. Additionally, it was revealed that the future Hall of Fame signal-caller is really testing Bernard as he gets ready for an expanded role.
"He's doing well as a rookie. Like I said before, you know, he has a great football brain, football IQ and understands what he's doing," Henry said. "I think Aaron quizzed him on something [on Thursday] and [Bernard] knew it. It was like, 'Oh, okay.' [Rodgers] was trying to get him, but [Bernard] got it."
Bernard was put on the spot, but he wasn't afraid to answer and give the correct response. This was just one instance that Henry was referring to, but it could go a long way. The four-time MVP demands the absolute best from anyone who is taking the field with him. With more targets probably coming for the first-year player, Henry made it clear that he is prepared for the upcoming challenge.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a 2025 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers' fan base will not be able to take much more of wideouts developing slowly. Wilson is starting to carve out a role for himself, but hasn't exactly projected as a future star. The opportunities that will come for Bernard in the coming weeks could be the start to an incredible career. To get the ball, though, he needed to impress Rodgers. It appears as if he did that on Thursday when he received a little pop quiz.
The funny part about the situation is that Rodgers likely wouldn't be afraid to call Bernard out to teach him a lesson. Instead, the rookie got whatever the question was right, leading to silence from everyone except Henry. There is no doubt that the wide receiver will have to stay on his toes, though. Another test could come pretty much any time that Rodgers feels like it.
Steelers Still May Have To Invest Even More At The Wide Receiver Position
The reason the seasons for Wilson and Bernard are so important is because Pittsburgh shouldn't need to be tempted to take the position early in the 2027 NFL Draft. If the two young guys in the room start to perform, the Steelers are suddenly deep in this specific area. The quizzes will continue to come, and they may not like it, but it will make them better football players at the end of the day. That's why having some around with Rodgers' pedigree is so crucial.
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