To the surprise of some, Aaron Rodgers didn’t announce throughout Wednesday’s occasion hosted by ESPN character Pat McAfee at PPG Paints Area in Pittsburgh that he had signed a contract to turn out to be the following beginning quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Thursday, well-known NFL insider Josina Anderson hinted that some inside the Steelers could also be a bit nervous concerning Rodgers’ intentions for the 2025 season.
“The vibe? I might say it feels slightly bizarre right here. The operating joke round right here proper now could be, ‘Who’s going to be our quarterback?’ Now, I would not say there’s any panic, although, however the present QB depth says what it says,” a league supply advised Anderson concerning the Steelers.
At the moment, the Steelers would begin both longtime backup Mason Rudolph or unproven commodity Skylar Thompson at quarterback in the event that they needed to play a recreation this coming weekend. Per Josh Alper of Professional Soccer Discuss, Steelers tight finish Pat Freiermuth insisted throughout a current podcast look that he and others within the locker room “have all the idea in Mason.”
Anderson’s submit is not the primary signal that some Steelers personnel aren’t absolutely satisfied Rodgers is dedicated to becoming a member of the membership earlier than mandatory minicamp practices get underway on June 10. In March, Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward made it known his “pitch” to Rodgers could be: “Both you wish to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you do not. It is that straightforward.” Heyward later attempted to make clear his feedback and stated that “it will be actually cool to have a man like” Rodgers on the group.
It is value noting that Rodgers hasn’t publicly denied the quite a few stories that previously claimed he wished to affix the Minnesota Vikings earlier than the Vikings started getting ready for 2024 first-round draft decide J.J. McCarthy to function their new QB1. McCarthy spent his rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair and shall be evaluated by the membership all through springtime exercises earlier than he is formally given the beginning job.
Pittsburgh is expected so as to add to its quarterback room sooner or later in the course of the upcoming draft no matter Rodgers’ standing, as he turns 42 years previous this coming December and should have just one season of soccer left within the tank. If he stays unsigned via April 24, the Steelers may reply by pursuing an marketed 2025 Week 1 starter in the course of the draft’s first spherical.