The Steelers have spent the first stretch of training camp embracing the new energy Mike McCarthy has brought to the building, and by most accounts, it’s been exactly the kind of reset the roster wanted. Players have described his coaching style and overall outlook as a breath of fresh air, and the early results have only made the switch look better.
But there’s one part of McCarthy’s thinking that stands out as a potential problem: his push for Aaron Rodgers to get on the field in preseason games against the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers, according to Mike Silver of The Athletic.
On paper, the idea makes sense. Extra game reps can sharpen timing, tighten execution, and help a team build chemistry before the real games start.
That matters for Pittsburgh, especially after a 2025 season in which the offense finished 25th in total offense at 305.6 yards per game and 17th in passing at 213.6. The Steelers also managed only a 40 percent third-down efficiency rate, which made it tougher than it should have been to finish drives with points.
Still, Rodgers is not a quarterback who needs a preseason tune-up to remind everyone what he is. Since 2005, he has earned 10 Pro Bowl selections, four MVP nominations, and a Super Bowl MVP honor. That kind of resume doesn’t come from needing a few exhibition snaps to find his footing.
That’s why the argument against playing him is so strong. Thirty to 40 snaps across two preseason games doesn’t feel like the kind of work that changes much for a veteran like Rodgers. What it can do, though, is expose him to unnecessary contact.
And that’s the real concern. Rodgers is 42, has taken a beating over the years, and has been sacked 69 times in the regular season over the last two years. The physical toll is obvious, and the idea of putting him in harm’s way for games that don’t count carries real risk.
The Steelers also can’t afford to treat the quarterback spot casually. Rodgers’ value to the offense is clear.
He threw 24 touchdown passes and 3,322 passing yards last season, and he was by far the most important player in Arthur Smith’s offense. If he were to miss time because of a preseason injury, the consequences would be immediate.
That’s why the safest path is the simplest one: if Rodgers plays at all, it should be in a limited role with very few snaps. The Steelers have plenty to gain from a fresh start under McCarthy, but they have too much riding on Rodgers to gamble with his health before the season even begins.
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For a fan base still trying to sort out what this group really is, that matters because Rodgers has a way of changing the mood of a practice just by stacking clean reps. It also sharpened the contrast around him, with Drew Allar struggling with his accuracy and timing and Jaquan Brisker letting multiple interception chances slip away over back-to-back practices, a small but telling stretch that left Rodgers steadiness standing out even more. [Read more 🡒]
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Even in a setting designed to give veterans and hopefuls a fresh start, Pickett did not separate himself from the pack. The performance put him in the middle of a crowded quarterback conversation in Carolina, while rookie Hayes King drew more attention with a much louder outing. For Steelers fans who have long wondered whether moving on was the right call, Picketts latest stop offered another reason to keep looking ahead. [Read more 🡒]