Steelers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers insists on playing through multiple fractures in left wrist
Despite the injury, Rodgers logged two full practices to finish the week, after which head coach Mike Tomlin said all systems were up for Week 13. The upcoming game against Buffalo has huge stakes. After the Ravens’ Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals, Pittsburgh has a chance to take a lead on Baltimore in the AFC North before facing off in Week 14, the first of two matchups between the clubs remaining this season.
Beyond the divisional aspect, a win against Buffalo would give the Steelers and Bills an identical score of 7-5 and give Pittsburgh a much-needed leg up in the wild-card race.
It’s imperative to have Rodgers there. Through 10 games in his first season in black and gold, he totaled 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a passer rating of 97.7, his highest since 2021.
Mason Rudolph was serviceable but unspectacular against Chicago, going 24 of 31 for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also lost a fumble.
Would Rodgers have made the difference against the Bears, whom he tormented throughout his career? Maybe, but his willingness to play through injury down the stretch should certainly boost the morale of a team that has been on a downward spiral of late.
After starting the season 4-1 to open a comfortable lead in the division, the Steelers have lost four of their last six and entered Week 13 tied for the lead with the Ravens. With this potentially being Rodgers’ final season in the NFL, he apparently isn’t content to miss another opportunity to make a difference.
Given his history, it’s no surprise that he would make such an effort to play through the pain.
Rodgers played almost the entire 2018 season with a fractured tibia after being injured in Week 1. He also played his final season for the Packers in 2022 with an avulsion fracture in his right thumb starting in Week 5.
Green Bay notably missed the playoffs during these two campaigns.
The Steelers are obviously hoping to do better, and a win against the Bills on Sunday would go a long way toward achieving that.
