PITTSBURGH — Although he was sidelined Wednesday with a fracture in his left wrist sustained in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers mentioned he’ll attempt to return to apply Thursday.
“It feels higher than it did Sunday, that is for positive,” Rodgers mentioned Wednesday afternoon. “… Was grateful to get right this moment to work with [head athletic trainer Gabe Amponsah] and simply give attention to rehab for right this moment. Making an attempt to get again on the sphere tomorrow and see what I can do.”
The timeline, although, to find out his standing for the Steelers’ Week 12 sport in Chicago is not as clear. To play in opposition to the Bears, Rodgers mentioned, he has to have the ability to “defend” himself.
“It is a security factor,” Rodgers mentioned, taking pictures down the notion that his capacity to play would come right down to ache administration.
Requested whether or not readability on his availability may come all the way in which right down to a pregame resolution, Rodgers deferred to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who mentioned in his information convention a day earlier that Friday could be a big day within the course of.
“I will depart that as much as Mr. Coach Tomlin,” Rodgers mentioned.
Rodgers additionally demurred when requested whether or not he had further incentive to play Sunday, given his historical past with the Bears.
“There’s incentive for each opponent, however I’ve loved many a Sunday and Monday and Thursdays in that metropolis,” mentioned Rodgers, who owns a 24-5 report in opposition to the Bears within the common season. “It is an excellent sports activities city, phenomenal sports activities followers and great spot to play.”
Requested whether or not he embraced being the villain within the rivalry with the Bears, Rodgers smirked and added, “I would reasonably not be; I imply, I am not in Inexperienced Bay anymore. I really feel like we are able to let bygones be bygones. Perhaps I can, I suppose.
“it is an excellent rivalry. … After I first obtained to Inexperienced Bay, the Bears had the all-time sequence lead. After I left, [the] Packers did. Since [Jordan] J-Love has taken over, it is even gotten higher, however I hope these followers can put that behind ’em. I am positive they can not, do not anticipate ’em to, however I actually benefit from the metropolis.”
Rodgers mentioned Steelers medical personnel are “working by way of” discovering a brace for the injured wrist on his non-throwing hand. The quarterback mentioned that it is presently extra comfy to take snaps from the shotgun however that the objective is to have the ability to take snaps beneath heart.
“I might say it might be harder to take a snap beneath heart than to catch one within the gun,” he mentioned. “And there is been occasions in my profession the place we’ve got adjusted and gone to some pistol units if we have to nonetheless hold the spacing on the run distribution between the halfback and the quarterback, however the objective could be to take snaps from beneath heart.”
Rodgers confirmed that his damage is not the aggravation of a preexisting situation, saying it occurred on a second-down play late within the second quarter in opposition to the Bengals when he fell backward beneath strain. Rodgers threw the ball out of the again of the tip zone after which landed awkwardly on his wrist. Although he performed yet another snap earlier than halftime, he did not return to the sphere after the break.
“I used to be in a whole lot of ache,” he mentioned. “We have been late within the play clock, known as timeout, came visiting. I felt like I may go yet another play, after which went in. Bought it checked out.”
Rodgers mentioned he did not have a dialog with backup Mason Rudolph within the locker room at halftime, as a substitute signaling to Rudolph that he was up by pointing at him along with his index finger.
In Rodgers’ place, Rudolph accomplished 12 of 16 makes an attempt for 126 yards and a landing in two offensive possessions. On Wednesday, Rudolph took first-team apply reps and was backed up by rookie sixth-round choose Will Howard.
“He is an excellent backup,” Rodgers mentioned of Rudolph. “He is tremendous useful in the course of the week. He is knowledgeable. He is able to play. He is a gamer, and watching the locker room final week, I used to be tremendous fired up watching him go up and down the sphere and people couple drives he had. I am grateful for the way in which he performed, the way in which he prepares. He is much more kind A, I might say, than I’m with the preparation. He is wound slightly tight, however it makes it for backup of quarterback as a result of he is so in tune to the main points, and I simply love being round him.”
Rudolph is lots accustomed to leaping into motion on the final minute — and with getting ready for a second which may by no means come. Since being drafted within the third spherical by the Steelers in 2018, Rudolph has began 13 video games for the Steelers and appeared in 24 whole. In 2019, he changed Ben Roethlisberger following the veteran’s season-ending elbow damage. Two years later, he began the Week 10 sport in opposition to the Detroit Lions with lower than 24 hours’ discover after Roethlisberger examined constructive for COVID-19 the evening earlier than. Then, with Roethlisberger within the isolation protocol and unable to apply, Rudolph took first-team reps the complete subsequent week. Roethlisberger, although, examined out of the protocol and was activated the day earlier than taking part in the Los Angeles Chargers and resumed his beginning position.
“I obtained loads of expertise going forwards and backwards in several roles,” Rudolph mentioned. “And so, I simply — it is a part of what’s in all probability chilled out my character slightly bit. I simply say, ‘Screw it,’ and I simply roll with the punches.”
