Bad news for Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Cam Heyward will be among the many veterans who will miss out on the team’s second preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers (8) looks to pass as Will Howard (18) waits his turn (AP)
This comes after Rodgers, who suffered an injury scare during practice. However, the four-time MVP should be ready for the regular season. During Wednesday’s session, the 41-year-old needed his calf wrapped after he was stepped on.
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Rookie Derrick Harmon bull-rushed an offensive lineman into Pittsburgh’s new quarterback, and Rodgers’ lower leg was accidentally stepped on in the process.
But, coach Mike Tomlin was unconcerned. According to reports, Rodgers had scratches on his right shin, and athletic trainers applied a bag of ice. The trainers wrapped his calf, and he returned to the drill without missing a rep.
“He just got stepped on,” Tomlin said afterward. “It was nothing of any significance. He finished his work.”
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Aaron Rodgers, who tore his left Achilles tendon just four snaps into his debut season with the New York Jets in 2023, is now dealing with a different kind of adjustment, swapping out his helmet.
The quarterback addressed reporters before practice, explaining that his old model, the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, is no longer approved under the NFL’s updated safety standards. That’s forced him into the Schutt Air XP Pro VTD II, a change he’s not thrilled about.
“I don’t like it, no,” Rodgers said Tuesday. “I’m trying to change. We’re in the process still. It looks like a damn spaceship out there.
“We got to change it. The face mask doesn’t fit the helmet because that’s an old face mask, obviously just like I’m old, but we’re trying to find the right helmet right now.”