AaronRodgers

News: 4 days agoCoach Mike McCarthy has asked Rodgers to play in the Steelers' first two preseason games, according to Michael Silver of The Athletic.

Spin: As the report notes, the veteran QB last saw significant exhibition-game action eight seasons ago, but Rodgers indicated Monday that McCarthy "(wants him out there for) 30 or 40 plays." On that topic, Rodgers told his coach, "If you want me to play, I'll play. I'm not saying I want to do it. But if he wants me to, I will." The Steelers' preseason opener is Thursday, Aug. 13 against the Packers.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Rodgers re-signed with the Steelers and will return for his second season with the team. The 42-year-old is reuniting with his longtime head coach from Green Bay, Mike McCarthy. The duo will look to improve on a 2025 campaign in which Rodgers finished just outside the top 12 in passing yards and touchdowns while ranking 23rd among 28 qualified QBs in QBR. Even if Rodgers' efficiency improves, he remains a nonfactor as a rusher (he last cleared 107 yards in 2020) and hasn't been fantasy relevant since 2021 (25th, 18th and 25th in points per game in his past three full seasons). Even with a more pass-friendly playcaller and with Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard added to the wide receiver room, Rodgers is no more than a low-ceiling QB2.