New Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday the team would "definitely" want Rodgers back if he decides to play in the 2026 season, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
After Mike Tomlin stepped down as the Steelers' head coach in mid-January, it was reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Rodgers was unlikely to re-up with the team after playing out 2025 on a one-year contract. A reunion with McCarthy might make the 42-year-old quarterback reconsider, however, as the two won Super Bowl XLV together with Green Bay back in 2011 -- coincidentally, a 31-25 victory over Pittsburgh. If he doesn't return to the Steelers, Rodgers will most likely retire.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Unlikely to return to Pittsburgh
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Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Rodgers is unlikely to return to the Steelers for 2026 after Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach Monday.
Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in part due to a desire of wanting to play for Tomlin. Even if Tomlin had been willing to return for 2026, Rodgers has been contemplating his retirement from the NFL, and Monday's wild-card loss to the Texans may have been the veteran quarterback's last game in the league, per Brooke Pryor and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Rodgers finished the 2025 regular season having completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for 61 yards and a score on 21 carries across 16 games.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Difficult night in playoff loss
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Rodgers completed 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in the Steelers' 30-6 wild-card loss to the Texans on Monday night. He also committed two fumbles, losing one.
If this was indeed Rodgers' NFL swan song, the Texans did plenty to encourage him to hang up the cleats thanks to a relentless defense that sacked him four times. Rodgers had DK Metcalf back at his disposal following the latter's completion of a two-game suspension, but outside of a pair of solid gains, the duo and the rest of the Steelers offense managed precious little against Houston's elite unit. Both of Rodgers' fourth-quarter turnovers -- a fumble on a strip sack and a interception on what may have been his final career pass attempt -- were returned for touchdowns as well. He did put together a solid regular season, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards with a 24:7 TD:INT and adding 61 rushing yards and an additional score on the ground over 16 games while playing out a one-year deal. The future Hall of Famer will presumably take some time to contemplate his future this offseason before deciding whether he'd like to continue his playing career.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Earns playoff berth on SNF
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Rodgers completed 31 of 47 pass attempts for 294 yards and a touchdown while gaining 20 yards on his only carry in Sunday's 26-24 victory over the Ravens.
Rodgers was in vintage form on Sunday Night Football as he fought for the right to represent the AFC North in the postseason. The 41-year-old turned back the clock with the campaign on the line to throw for a season-high 294 yards while earning a critical victory for Pittsburgh. Rodgers was plenty useful at various points of the schedule, but his overall production (3,322 yards, 24 TDs, seven INT) in 2025 fell short of the volume he produced during his prime, or even from his last year with the Jets. The future Hall of Famer will be making the 12th playoff appearance of his career in his first season with the Steelers when Rodgers faces the Texans next Monday in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: QBs to Sit
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Rodgers didn't have DK Metcalf (suspended) in Week 17 at Cleveland, and it showed with just 7.3 Fantasy points. Metcalf is still out in Week 18 against Baltimore, and you can't trust Rodgers in the majority of leagues in this matchup. He had a solid game against the Ravens in Week 14 with 23.5 Fantasy points, and Baltimore has allowed four of the past five opposing quarterbacks to score at least 23.2 points. But without Metcalf, the Steelers don't have enough weapons in the passing game to help Rodgers succeed.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Struggles against Cleveland
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Rodgers completed 21 of 39 passes for 168 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Browns. He added one rush for six yards.
Rodgers was without both DK Metcalf (suspension) and Calvin Austin (hamstring) for the entire game, and Darnell Washington (arm) exited early on. That led to a conservative game plan and out-of-sync offense, with the end result being Rodgers averaging only 4.3 yards per attempt. He also accounted for 58 of his yards on Pittsburgh's final drive with long completions to Pat Freiermuth and Scotty Miller. This performance halted some positive momentum that Rodgers had built with recent performances, marking his first game without a touchdown and his lowest yardage total since Week 13. He'll now prepare for a division-deciding matchup against the Ravens in Week 18.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: QBs to Sit
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Rodgers is playing well coming into Week 17 at Cleveland with at least 20.9 Fantasy points in two of his past three games, and Pittsburgh has won three in a row against Baltimore, Miami and Detroit. I expect the Steelers to keep their win streak alive against the Browns, but Rodgers should only be started in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. He will likely be handing off a lot in this matchup, especially with DK Metcalf (suspended) out. Cleveland's run defense is terrible, which is part of the reason why only four quarterbacks all season have scored at least 20 Fantasy points against the Browns. I don't expect Rodgers to be No. 5 on that list, and he is not worth using in any one-quarterback league.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Sleeper QBs
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Rodgers has scored at least 20.9 Fantasy points in two games in a row against Baltimore and Miami, and he could have another solid outing in Week 16 at Detroit. The Lions are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and four guys in a row have scored at least 20.4 Fantasy points. It's risky to trust Rodgers, but this game could be a shootout for him and Jared Goff. I like Rodgers as a low-end starting option in deeper leagues given the matchup.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Gets more aggressive
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Rodgers completed 23 of 34 passes for 284 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 27-22 win over the Ravens. He added two rushes for zero yards and a touchdown.
Rodgers entered the game with one of the lowest average intended air yards in the league, but he took plenty of downfield shots in Sunday's divisional matchup. He was particularly effective targeting DK Metcalf, as the duo connected for long gains of 52 and 41 yards. Rodgers also accounted for multiple scores for the first time since Week 8, beginning with a one-yard touchdown scamper and later on a 38-yard pass -- most of which came after the catch -- to Jaylen Warren. It's difficult to trust the Steelers' passing offense moving forward, but Rodgers could keep the momentum going with a favorable Week 15 matchup against Miami.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Sits out practice Wednesday
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Rodgers (left wrist) didn't practice Wednesday.
Rodgers' presence on the Steelers' Week 14 injury report isn't surprising, as coach Mike Tomlin indicated during his weekly press conference that the QB would be among those whose practice participation would be limited to start the week. That said, Rodgers noted after Wednesday's practice he felt like his non-throwing wrist was healing. "I didn't come out of the game any worse for wear," said Rodgers, who started this past Sunday against the Bills, missing only a series when he was hit in the nose and bleeding. Chances are, Rodgers will return to practice Thursday, as he did last week when he logged a full session.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Practices in full Thursday
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Rodgers (wrist) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Rodgers' unrestricted practice level effectively confirms Ian Rapoport of NFL Network's report that the veteran quarterback is on track to return to the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against the Bills. Rodgers missed Week 12 due to a non-displaced fracture to his non-throwing wrist, and per Saunders still wore a cast at Thursday's practice. It's possible he'll still have the wrist stabilized during Sunday's game. Top wideout DK Metcalf (ankle) also practiced in full Thursday.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Back at practice
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Rodgers (left wrist) returned to practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Per Pryor, Rodgers' left wrist was stabilized, but after missing Wednesday's session, the QB's return to the field a day later is nonetheless a positive development ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills. The Steelers' upcoming injury report is slated to clarify Rodgers' official participation level Thursday.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Should resume practicing Thursday
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Rodgers (wrist) didn't practice Wednesday but plans to participate Thursday and Friday, Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live reports.
It sounds like his activity level Friday will depend on how he feels during/after Thursday's session. Rodgers hopes to return for Sunday's game against Buffalo after missing a Week 12 loss at Chicago, but he acknowledged Wednesday that he still wasn't ready to take snaps under center, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports. He's wearing a cast to protect his broken left wrist, with Mason Rudolph taking first-team practice reps in the meantime. Comments from Rodgers suggest he won't need clearance from a doctor and is fine to manage the pain, but functionality clearly remains a concern when it comes to taking snaps and using his non-throwing hand to grip the ball.
Coach Mike Tomlin noted after Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Bears that he anticipates Rodgers (left wrist) being ready to play next weekend against the Bills, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Tomlin noted in a pregame interview Sunday that Rodgers -- who has been dealing with a fractured left wrist -- "fought his tail off" to play against Chicago, while adding that it was the "prudent" decision to sit the veteran quarterback. In his Week 12 absence, Mason Rudolph started for the Steelers, with Will Howard backing him up.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Status for Sunday still uncertain
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Rodgers (wrist), who is officially questionable for Sunday's matchup against Chicago, "has been pushing to play," but Steelers doctors have been "cautious and guarded" about clearing the veteran quarterback, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Schefter notes that if Rodgers is left to decide his status, he'll play, but adds that Pittsburgh hasn't given any hints about the outcome of the decision. Rodgers is dealing with a minor fracture to his left (non-throwing) wrist that isn't expected to require surgery, and he has suggested that the determination about his ability to suit up Sunday hinges on whether the issue will inhibit him from protecting himself. Fantasy managers may not know Rodgers' playing status until the Steelers release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff, and at this point, his likelihood of playing seems to be about 50/50. Mason Rudolph would draw the start in Chicago if Rodgers is unable to play through the injury.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Questionable after limited practice
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Coach Mike Tomlin noted Friday that Rodgers (left wrist) was limited at practice Friday and will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Earlier this week, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com relayed that Rodgers' Week 12 status is, in the words of the QB, "a safety thing" rather than a pain-management issue. In the wake of back-to-back practices, Rodgers could end up being a game-day call, but fortunately for those considering him in fantasy lineups this week, the Steelers kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday. If he's unavailable versus Chicago, however, Mason Rudolph would be in line to draw the start in his place.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Returns to limited practice
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Rodgers (left wrist) was limited in his return to practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
After logging a DNP on Wednesday, Rodgers returned to a limited session a day later, while sporting "some sort of stabilizer" on his left non-throwing wrist, per Pryor. As for his chances of playing Sunday against the Bears, Rodgers told Pryor on Wednesday that he'd need to be able to "protect" himself in order to do so. In any case, unless Rodgers practices fully Friday, he'll presumably head into the weekend with an injury designation. If he's unavailable versus Chicago, Mason Rudolph would be in line to start in his place.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: At practice Thursday
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Rodgers (wrist) was present for practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Per Pryor, Rodgers' left wrist was in "some sort of stabilizer" as he was spotted doing individual reps Thursday. On the heels of a DNP on Wednesday, the veteran QB's presence at practice a day later is encouraging, though it seems likely he'll be officially listed by the Steelers as a limited participant.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Hopes to practice Thursday
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Rodgers (wrist) didn't practice Wednesday but hopes to return Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Rodgers told reporters that he's currently more comfortable taking snaps in shotgun but hopes to be ready for snaps under center later this week. He said his Sunday availability will be a matter of safety and functionality, not pain management, deferring to coach Mike Tomlin on any potential timeline for naming the Week 12 starter. Mason Rudolph will lead the first-team offense during Wednesday's practice.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: Considered 50-50 for Week 12
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Rodgers (wrist) will undergo further medical evaluation Monday and has been described by NFL sources as "50-50" to face the Bears in Week 12, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Rodgers suffered an injury to his left, non-throwing wrist and was forced out early during Pittsburgh's win over the Bengals in Week 11, which Adam Schefter of ESPN reports may be a minor fracture. Whether or not the veteran quarterback is at risk of exacerbating the injury, and whether he can properly grip a football, will be the major deciding factors in his availability. Mason Rudolph replaced Rodgers to start the third quarter Sunday, completing 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown while rushing once for minus-1 yard. If Rodgers isn't able to suit up on the road against Chicago, Rudolph will presumably draw the start while rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard, who recently came off IR, handles the No. 2 role.
