Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn’t able to take the field on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, but he made sure to get some shots in before the game.
Rodgers reportedly pushed the team to put him in the lineup despite suffering a fractured wrist, but he was ultimately benched in favor of veteran Mason Rudolph as the team determined he needed more time to recover.
Rodgers still made an impression with some controversial actions as he warmed up in the stadium before the game.
Aaron Rodgers Renews Old Rivalry
As ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported, Rodgers was in a testy mood as he warmed up before the game.
“Aaron Rodgers arrived at Soldier Field about 20 minutes ago, walked one lap around the field, flipped off a couple of the cameras that were filming and went back inside,” Graziano wrote in a post on X. “Used his right hand to flip the bird, so unclear if he could do it with his left. Status for today’s game still up in the air.”
Rodgers had spoken earlier in the week about his longstanding rivalry with the Bears from his time with the Green Bay Packers, saying he enjoyed the city and fans — and the historic success he enjoyed there.
“It’s a great rivalry. … When I first got to Green Bay, the Bears had the all-time series lead. When I left, [the] Packers did,” Rodgers said. “Since [Jordan] J-Love has taken over, it’s even gotten better, but I hope those fans can put that behind ’em. I’m sure they can’t, don’t expect ’em to, but I really enjoy the city.”
Steelers Make Tough Call on Aaron Rodgers
Though the Steelers are desperate for a win to hold off the hard-charging Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, they decided it was too much to push Rodgers to play. Head coach Mike Tomlin told CBS before the game that the veteran quarterback fought hard all week to get ready, but it was the “prudent” decision to keep him on the sidelines and give him more time to heal.
“He fought his tail off all week,” Tomlin said, via ESPN. “That’s the prudent play to make for us as a collective. We’ll let Mason start; he’s absorbed most of the reps this week.”
Rodgers had been listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report, missing practice on Wednesday but going on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday. He was hopeful about playing, telling reporters this week that he had made good progress.
“It feels better than it did Sunday, that’s for sure,” Rodgers told reporters, via ESPN. “… Was thankful to get today to work with [head athletic trainer Gabe Amponsah] and just focus on rehab for today. Trying to get back on the field tomorrow and see what I can do.”
The Steelers turn to Rudolph, the team’s steady backup. He has a 9-8-1 record as a starter for the Steelers, including a 1-4 record in the 2024 season. Rookie Will Howard was listed as Rudolph’s backup against the Bears, with Rodgers serving as the emergency No. 3 quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers Under Fire for Actions Before Steelers-Bears Game