Every pundit was aware quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn’t the same 4-time league MVP quarterback when the season began. But even at 41-year-old, some experts saw Rodgers having success with the Pittsburgh Steelers because of the amount of other talent the team has.
But similar to Rodgers, is that other talent over the hill too? NFL analyst Mike Renner argued Wednesday on his Pushing the Pile podcast that it is.
“None of those guys are what they once were,” Renner said. “[Aaron] Rodgers doesn’t feel quite like his dominant self. T.J. Watt’s not quite as dominant as he once was. DK Metcalf, even, not prime DK Metcalf. Jalen Ramsey. All of them feel like a little bit, not to say a shell, but they are all not the complete dominant [versions].”
Renner’s co-host, former offensive lineman Kyle Long, agreed, referring to the Steelers stars as leftover dinners.
“Like, hey, That’s a great looking meal. But it’s been sitting in the fridge in a Tupperware for a day in a half,” said Long.
Age a Growing Concern With Steelers?
It wasn’t widely discussed during the summer, but one concern among pundits was the average age of Pittsburgh’s starting roster. According to Sports Casting, the Steelers entered 2025 with the second-oldest starting lineup.
A lot of Pittsburgh’s star defenders were the ones raising that average age too.
Two weeks into the regular season, the Steelers have done little to dispel age as a potential concern. The team allowed more than 30 points in each of its first two games for the first time since 1989.
It’s a small sample. But the Steelers are 29th in points allowed and yards yielded after two weeks. With the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks, the team hasn’t exactly faced the toughest quarterback competition in the league either.
Yet, the Steelers defense is 30th in net yards allowed per pass attempt. Pittsburgh is also ranked 28th in run defense.
Some pundits are blaming age as the reason for the poor defensive start with the Steelers.
“The ages of several key defensive stars were hard to ignore when evaluating this group in the preseason and are even more glaring now,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote Wednesday. “Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is 36. Cornerback Darius Slay is 34. Edge rusher T.J. Watt and cornerback Jalen Ramsey turn 31 next month.
“While I’m not doubting whether these established stars can still produce, to rely heavily on four over-30 stars on one side of the ball is a challenge.”
The Steelers offense could be struggling from having both aging veterans and inexperienced players. While the Steelers offensive line is very young and unproven, others such as Rodgers and DK Metcalf are players other teams cast aside this offseason.
Aaron Rodgers’ Steelers Face Grim 2025 Finish Because of Aging Roster?
While age could be playing a role in parts of the disappointing start for the Steelers this season, it’s probably premature to rule out Mike Tomlin’s squad from bouncing back.
Watt’s lack of sacks could be tied to the team’s inability to stop the run. The Steelers haven’t had a chance to pass rush a lot because opponents haven’t been in third-and-long often.
Metcalf and other aging stars such as Jalen Ramsey have made some big plays. And while Rodgers didn’t repeat his Week 1 performance in the team’s home opener, he appears to be moving around better and is more comfortable than last season.
Renner could be right at the end of the season. It’s quite possible none of Pittsburgh’s stars experience the best campaign of their NFL careers this fall.
But the question is can they collectively be good enough for the Steelers to be better than they’ve been the first two weeks of 2025.
Steelers Receive Stark Warning Just 2 Weeks Into 2025 NFL Season