Darius Slay Jr. might be working his way back into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ good graces after a recent dustup with Ike Taylor over his “sus” comment about Joey Porter Jr.’s hands.
This time, Slay’s message on ESPN’s “NFL Live” landed a lot better in Pittsburgh. Talking about Aaron Rodgers, Slay said the veteran quarterback still has enough mobility to handle himself when the play breaks down, and enough arm strength to make the throws the Steelers need.
"He can still move around a little bit. Of course, we're not expecting him to be running crazy around the world," Slay said. "But he can still move around, be comfortable in the pocket, and he's still got the arm strength to make the throws he needs to make."
That’s the right kind of read for Rodgers at this stage of his career. At 42, and with what looks like the final year of a storied run ahead of him, he’s no longer the same quarterback who once threatened defenses with his legs and his ability to escape pressure.
Now, Rodgers is much more limited as a runner, and that’s been obvious. He’s not the scramble threat he used to be, and his willingness to avoid hits has become a major part of the conversation around his game. That showed up throughout his first season in Pittsburgh.
Still, it’s not hard to understand why Rodgers plays that way. He’s dealt with injuries in recent years, including a torn Achilles in 2023, and the priority now is simple: stay upright and stay available.
For the Steelers, that tradeoff makes sense. Rodgers giving himself up when the pocket collapses is a lot easier to live with than watching him stand in there and absorb hit after hit. Pittsburgh needs him at quarterback if it wants any real shot at a playoff run.
And while the legs are fading, Slay’s point about the arm still matters. Rodgers may not have the same electric zip he once did in his prime, but the talent is still there. If the offensive line gives him time and the receivers consistently win their routes, there’s reason to believe he can still be a solid quarterback for the Steelers in 2026.
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Roman Wilson adds another layer to that picture because his camp will be judged on more than flashes alone. The Steelers have reasons to believe there is something there, but the margin for error is thin for a player trying to carve out his place in a competitive receiver room. If he can separate himself, it changes the conversation around how Pittsburgh fills out that position group, and it could make the rest of these camp decisions look even more significant. [Read more 🡒]
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Javon Hargrave fits the same uneasy pattern for a franchise that has long valued homegrown defensive talent. After leaving Pittsburgh, he kept climbing, piling up recognition that only made the Steelers search for steady answers in the middle of the defense feel more familiar. For a fan base that remembers how these exits played out, the frustration is less about any one move than the recurring reminder that some of the toughest losses are the ones that happen quietly, then keep paying off somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Forgot About Cole Holcomb At The Worst Possible Time
Cole Holcombs path back into the Steelers linebacker picture has already been one of the quieter comeback stories on the roster. After missing the entire 2024 season with a severe knee injury, he returned in 2025 and got into 14 games, showing enough against the run to remind the team why it brought him in on a two-year, $5 million deal in the first place. With a new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham, Holcombs steadiness and experience suddenly look a lot more relevant than they did a year ago.
The bigger question now is how that translates once the Steelers start sorting out their linebacker rotation for 2026. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson are still part of the conversation, but Holcombs play last season gave him a real case for more snaps if the new scheme rewards reliability and physicality. He may not need a dramatic leap to matter, just a clearer path and a staff willing to lean into what he already does well. [Read more 🡒]