Welcome back to your weekly Pittsburgh Steelers mailbag. As always, we’re here the next hour to answer whatever is on your mind.

To your questions!

BananasFoster: 

Alex-

Who is the starting QB for the Steelers Game 1 of 2026…and you have to answer!!

A. Rodgers/Flacco/Cousins
B. Mason Rudolph
C. Will Howard/2026 Rookie QB
D. Another mid-tier FA

Alex: Rodgers. If he wants to keep playing, they’ll welcome him back. That still could change based on how the season goes but that’s where things stand. Pittsburgh could still draft a rookie, even one in the first round, but Rodgers could still start the season. That’s what I’m sticking with.

Dan Blocker: 

Hi Alex! Does a Steeler CB’s willingness to play the run game matter as much these days? And if not, how does the defense account for that?

The Asante Samuel signing doesn’t fit the bigger CB mold of JPJ or Trice we’d been chasing, and obviously we’ve seen their ups and downs. Are we getting back to “First, can he cover?” Or… does size matter, Alex??? Ha! Hope all is well.

Alex: I think it matters less. Mostly because it’s a pass happier league and especially AFC North. When you’re facing teams like the Bengals and people like Chase and Higgins (granted, the Bengals used to have Housh and Ocho, so they’ve had great talent in the past). But Pittsburgh has drafted more cover corners playing more man coverage. Guys who can make plays on the ball, at least in theory. And Pittsburgh clearly likes those bigger Avatar type of cornerbacks.

How does the defense account? I don’t think it changes things dramatically. Corners are still involved in the run fit. They just might be a little less successful or a young guy might take more time to improve. Porter has progressed.

Really, the change is about the nickel spot. The last decade seeing that become a de facto starter. So you need your nickel to tackle well. Pittsburgh had that with Gay, Hilton, and Ramsey before his move to safety. That’s the corner you need to still stop the run at a high level because he’s so involved.

J. Jones: Whats up Alex, rough week! How has ARods lack of scrambling ability hurt the offense? Seems like every other qb in the league can move at least a little now days. No team is consistently moving the chains without getting something from their qbs legs except for Cincy, and even Flacco burned us for an unexpected scramble.

Alex: It cuts both ways. In some ways, his lack of scrambling can help the offense. Get the ball out quick, take fewer sacks, and play point guard. That strategy and role has had success. Fields could scramble but he’s also take bad sacks. Russ could run better but loved bailing on clean pockets. And Rodgers has made plays in scramble drills, though it’s been a couple weeks. But go back and check out the Bengals game.

I think it hurts the run game. Rush attempts are down, that element is taken away, teams can key in on the back. Offense having trouble sustaining drives. Pittsburgh’s used RPOs and hot throws/screen game to try to sub that in. I don’t know if it’s been quite as effective. You don’t wear teams down as well that way.

So it’s hard to say the net outcome. Benefit, detriment. It is different though. Still, this offense doesn’t need a scambler to succeed. And that’s the bottom line. The group is capable and they have to be more consistent and execute.