As of Thursday afternoon, it remained unclear if Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) quarterback Aaron Rodgers will start on Sunday against the 7-3 Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Rodgers suffered a small fracture in his left (non-throwing) wrist in Pittsburgh’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16.
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith hinted that Rodgers will ultimately determine his status for the Week 12 contest.
Steelers trust Aaron Rodgers to make right decision
“I just trust him. This isn’t his first rodeo,” Smith said about Rodgers while speaking with reporters on Thursday, per Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I know that he knows how to prepare and has been in different circumstances like this before.”
A Wednesday report indicated that the Steelers could wait until Friday or Saturday to make a final decision on Rodgers for the Bears game. Later on Wednesday, the soon-to-be 42-year-old noted that he’ll have to feel confident he’ll be able to “protect” himself while on the field.
“It’s a safety thing,” Rodgers said.
This also isn’t Arthur Smith’s first rodeo
Backup Mason Rudolph filled in for Rodgers against the Bengals and completed 12-of-16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown to help Pittsburgh earn a 34-12 victory. According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Smith reminded everybody that he’s no stranger to dealing with quarterback uncertainty ahead of a game.
“I’ve been in these a few times, and that’s why you always have to have contingency plans,” Smith explained. “We’ll see how the week unfolds, so that way it’s my job to be ready either way.”
Rodgers played for the Green Bay Packers from 2005 through the 2022 season. The future Hall of Famer posted a career 24-5 regular-season record against the Bears while with Green Bay, and he threw for 64 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in those games.
On Wednesday, Rodgers suggested his longtime dominance over the Bears won’t affect whether he starts for the Steelers on Sunday. That said, it sounds like Smith and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will trust Rodgers to make the best decision for the team, at least for the Chicago game.
