PITTSBURGH — The preliminary concern is that Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has “a slight break” in his left, non-throwing wrist, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The quarterback will endure additional testing Monday to find out the total extent of the harm and the way lengthy he’ll be sidelined, league sources instructed Schefter.
Rodgers didn’t return to Sunday’s 34-12 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals after sustaining the harm late within the second quarter.
Rodgers was initially declared to have a hand harm, however Steelers coach Mike Tomlin mentioned afterward that Rodgers harm his wrist. He’ll be additional evaluated Monday morning, Tomlin mentioned, including that he talked to the veteran after the sport. Rodgers additionally was noticed leaving the locker room.
“He was excited concerning the win,” Tomlin mentioned. “I simply talked to him, however that is all we talked about. We did not speak about his harm. We talked concerning the significance of the win.”
Rodgers landed on his left wrist and hand as he was tackled after throwing the ball away on second-and-goal with simply seconds left earlier than halftime. He stayed in for yet one more play after a timeout, however his hand appeared to have blood on it when he went to the sideline for Chris Boswell’s profitable 25-yard discipline aim try. Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph mentioned Rodgers instructed him at halftime that he can be beginning the second half.
“I noticed what you guys noticed, which was [Rodgers] type of go down gingerly a bit bit, however I wasn’t certain severity, and I am nonetheless actually undecided, both,” Rudolph mentioned. “We talked within the locker room, and he instructed me, he gave me the finger — not the unhealthy finger, however the index — and mentioned you are going in.”
Although the Steelers dominated Rodgers questionable to return, he did not seem to return to the sideline after halftime. Tomlin mentioned he did not know if the 41-year-old signal-caller might have returned within the second half.
“I haven’t got the reply to that to be trustworthy with you,” the coach mentioned. “I am going to have extra info subsequent time we discuss.”
With Rodgers out, Rudolph performed the second half and led the offense to 2 scoring drives. He completed 12-of-16 passing for 127 yards and a landing on a 5-yard move to Kenneth Gainwell within the fourth quarter.
“Mason’s confirmed previously what he confirmed at this time,” Tomlin mentioned. “That is why we worth him as a member of this collective and are appreciative of his play — and definitely Kenny Gainwell made play after play for us, successful within the flat and so forth, however loads of guys did.”
Outdoors of the ultimate victory formation, Rudolph and the offense had solely two second-half drives. The primary went for 15 performs, and the second went for 12 performs. Earlier than Rudolph took over, the Steelers had two nine-play drives and one which went for eight performs.
“We’re very snug with Mason,” Pittsburgh huge receiver Calvin Austin III mentioned. “Went by him all by the OTAs and every thing. He got here in and did precisely what we anticipate him to do and simply cube up the protection and simply unfold the ball round.”
Austin additionally expressed religion in Rudolph — who began three video games for the Steelers down the stretch of the 2023 season to make the playoffs — if Rodgers is sidelined for any period of time.
“Full confidence,” Austin mentioned. “He is very proficient. He has nice confidence in himself, as nicely. For a quarterback and the man main the workforce, you need that, and I believe we’ll be full steam forward.”
The Steelers’ harm woes continued early into the third quarter when operating again Jaylen Warren harm an ankle as he was tackled. He walked off fastidiously with medical personnel and went into the blue harm tent. Warren registered 62 yards on 10 carries together with two catches for five yards.
Warren returned to the sideline together with his helmet on after a quick keep within the medical tent. He was dominated questionable however returned on second-and-3 from Cincinnati’s 12-yard line with six minutes to go within the third quarter. The Steelers, although, referred to as a timeout, and Warren did not reenter when the offense got here again onto the sector.
Warren mentioned after the sport that the Steelers had been being cautious with what he described as a “tweak.”
“It was simply a part of being good,” Warren mentioned. “Bought loads of video games forward of us, in order that they had been simply searching for me.”
With Warren on the sideline, the Steelers turned to Gainwell and rookie Kaleb Johnson within the run recreation to shut out the win. Although Gainwell had simply three second-half carries for six yards, he completed the sport because the Steelers’ main receiver with seven catches for 81 yards. And Johnson, whose motion has been restricted this season, had 5 carries for 15 yards.
