Just a month ago, there was still a case to be made that Aaron Rodgers belonged in the top-10 quarterback conversation. But as we head into a pivotal Week 14 clash between the Steelers and Ravens, that narrative has shifted - and fast.
Rodgers, now 42, is navigating one of the roughest stretches of his storied career. He missed his first game of the season in Week 12 and looked out of sync in Week 13 against Buffalo. Add a fractured left wrist to the equation, and it’s clear the four-time MVP is playing through more than just defensive pressure.
Still, even as the overall production dips, there’s one area where Rodgers continues to separate himself from the rest of the league: his release. ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently compiled a list of the best NFL players at 109 different skills, and Rodgers earned top honors for the quickest throw release.
It’s not just reputation - it’s backed by data. His average time to throw clocks in at 2.67 seconds, the second-fastest in the NFL.
That quick trigger has long been one of Rodgers’ signature traits - the ability to diagnose a defense, make a decision, and fire the ball into a tight window before the pass rush can collapse the pocket. Even now, with a compromised wrist and limited mobility, that skill remains elite.
But while the short game still flashes, the deep ball - once one of Rodgers’ most dangerous weapons - has taken a noticeable hit. He’s averaging just 6.7 yards per attempt heading into Week 14, a mark that ties his 2024 and 2015 seasons for the lowest in his career as a starter. That doesn’t even include 2023, when his season was cut short in Week 1.
The numbers paint a clear picture: Rodgers is still capable of making the quick-hitting throws that keep an offense on schedule. But the explosive plays downfield - the ones that used to flip games in a single snap - just aren’t there right now.
As the Steelers prepare to face a physical Ravens defense, the question becomes whether Rodgers can adapt. Can he lean into the short game, manage the tempo, and avoid the kind of mistakes that have crept in during this recent slump? Or will Baltimore’s pressure expose a quarterback who’s no longer able to stretch the field the way he once did?
There’s no doubt Rodgers’ résumé still commands respect. But at this stage of the season - and this stage of his career - the margin for error is shrinking fast.
Week 14 won’t just be another game. It’s a measuring stick, both for where Rodgers is now and how much he has left in the tank.