Why did the Pittsburgh Steelers decide to bench Aaron Rodgers ahead of Week 1?
Aaron Rodgers
won't see game snaps in Pittsburgh's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, a decision coach Mike Tomlin confirmed as the Steelers close out tune-up action and shift focus to the regular season.
The move keeps Rodgers on a careful ramp-up schedule as the 41-year-old prepares for what could be a landmark first start in Week 1.
Why Aaron Rodgers is being held back and what that means for Week 1 readiness
Tomlin also said top veterans DK Metcalf, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt won't play in the opener, a common preseason script that protects key players from unnecessary risk. Rodgers followed the team line when asked if he'd play Thursday: 'I'll roll with whatever Mike decides.'
That deference and the absence of preseason reps mirror how the quarterback managed last year with the Jets — prioritizing practice and game-planning over exhibition snaps.
What Aaron Rodgers and the offense worked on in practice
Though he won't take preseason snaps, Rodgers did get valuable moments in joint practice with Tampa Bay's starters, testing the Steelers' protection schemes and timing with receivers. Rodgers was candid about the learning curve:
'Failure is always best this time of year to learn from and to be able to let the coaches go through and let us go through it,' he said, adding there was 'a lot' of film to correct after situational drills.
He also praised the realism of practice pressure, noting it was useful work for the protection group.
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With Rodgers skipping the preseason finale, Pittsburgh's staff can focus on polishing the playbook and refining matchups ahead of the Week 1 trip to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Jets. For fans eager to see Rodgers in a Steelers uniform, patience now increases the likelihood of a cleaner, better-prepared debut when the regular season kicks off.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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