Aaron Rodgers is Back for 2026

[Gildong Sack]

When did I ever say he wasn't going to be there today?

He was one of the first ones in.

As far as the drills I mentioned earlier that Mason probably ran those...I just read somewhere else that Howard ran the drills...to me that is a sure sign Mason is packing his bags, and it jives with a story on the home page of this site.

So Howard is 2 more than likely.

"You don't necessarily want to go into the season with Mason Rudolph as your backup because if there is an injury, then you're still not able to evaluate Will Howard. So to me, this entire spring, this OTAs, this summer training camp, it's about getting Will Howard prepared to be the backup, the coaching staff is comfortable with him being the backup, and that's the next logical step in his progression," Fittipaldo said. "We heard how much they love him right now. Get to this point, you're the backup, and then if something happens to Aaron Rodgers, you're going to be the guy who steps in to get that chance to show them what you can do in a real game."

 

[Litos]

I think that if you think Allar is Josh Allen 2.0, you may have bumped your head.

The Steelers have definitely improved at wide receiver. But if you thought they had horrible OL play last season, what indicates that it will be better this year? Seumalo is gone. Jones is a huge question mark. Sure, they drafted two promising guys, but are they going to start two rookies on the offensive line?

Seumalo was injured though

 

[Litos]

Mason should be gone/traded...immediately if I was the GM.

He probably gets more value after TC and preseason due to injuries

 

[topseed]

As opposed to what, throwing one of the young guns out there in a new system where QB reads are a staple? For what purpose, so the Steelers and us fans get to see "what they got"? If you think about it, what you're proposing is what the Cleveland Browns did last season and do you think they're in a better position this year over last? Couple that with the fact that there is a new coaching staff, new plays, concepts, schemes, culture, relationship building, etc. it only adds to the complexity of the entire situation. Bringing in the old man who has worked in this system at the highest levels to mentor the young guns is the best situation for the organization. Have the Steelers pissed into the wind at the QB position, most certainly. But to just throw some kid out there and pray for a Jaxon Dart miracle isn't the correct approach IMO.

Yes and yes. QB reads are a staple in any NFL offense. Plenty of rookie quarterbacks have had success lately in their new systems. Dart is just one example. Bo Nix is another. Brock Purdy (who we all know was a seventh round draft choice) has done pretty well for himself.

Will Howard is not a rookie, and he's not a "kid." He's going to be 25 in September. He started 50 games in college, and won a national championship. Will's already spent a year in the NFL. Yes, he was hurt for much of it, but that full year of seasoning still counts for something.

Bringing in the old man (you used that term yourself) is not the best situation for the organization. All it does is delay the development of Howard and Allar, denying them important reps and game experience. And next year, when the QB draft is rich, instead of having a definitive idea of which direction they need to take, the Steelers will be there holding their dicks after watching a 43-year-old fossil manage to squeak out 9 or maybe 10 wins again. For the bargain price of $22 million.

 

[Coryea]

Yes and yes. QB reads are a staple in any NFL offense. Plenty of rookie quarterbacks have had success lately in their new systems. Dart is just one example. Bo Nix is another. Brock Purdy (who we all know was a seventh round draft choice) has done pretty well for himself.

Will Howard is not a rookie, and he's not a "kid." He's going to be 25 in September. He started 50 games in college, and won a national championship. Will's already spent a year in the NFL. Yes, he was hurt for much of it, but that full year of seasoning still counts for something.

Bringing in the old man (you used that term yourself) is not the best situation for the organization. All it does is delay the development of Howard and Allar, denying them important reps and game experience. And next year, when the QB draft is rich, instead of having a definitive idea of which direction they need to take, the Steelers will be there holding their dicks after watching a 43-year-old fossil manage to squeak out 9 or maybe 10 wins again. For the bargain price of $22 million.

Don't worry, we'll get to do this all over again next off season, Rodgers will play just good enough where he thinks he has another year left.

Don't you know Mahomes is so great because he sat behind the great Alex Smith.

 

[Gildong Sack]

Yes and yes. QB reads are a staple in any NFL offense. Plenty of rookie quarterbacks have had success lately in their new systems. Dart is just one example. Bo Nix is another. Brock Purdy (who we all know was a seventh round draft choice) has done pretty well for himself.

Will Howard is not a rookie, and he's not a "kid." He's going to be 25 in September. He started 50 games in college, and won a national championship. Will's already spent a year in the NFL. Yes, he was hurt for much of it, but that full year of seasoning still counts for something.

Bringing in the old man (you used that term yourself) is not the best situation for the organization. All it does is delay the development of Howard and Allar, denying them important reps and game experience. And next year, when the QB draft is rich, instead of having a definitive idea of which direction they need to take, the Steelers will be there holding their dicks after watching a 43-year-old fossil manage to squeak out 9 or maybe 10 wins again. For the bargain price of $22 million.

They are going to get to evaluate Howard. All signs point to him being #2 and Rodgers will be injured at some point enough to miss a game or two.

Sure it's not a complete season, but if you are 2 you prepare like the starter. Howard will show out if he has enough "it" or he won't. We shall see.

 

[topseed]

Top 12 in Passer Rating and TDs with possibly the worst offensive roster in the league last year. That is very good...let's see what he can do with the talent that has been added.

Rodgers was #15 of 15 in postseason passer rating. Lower than CJ Stroud, who threw 5 interceptions in two playoff games. Lower than Jarrett Stidham, who played in a blizzard and hadn't attempted a pass in an NFL game since 2023.

But let's all rejoice that the GOAT is back, and he's only a year older!

 

[topseed]

Seumalo was injured though

Yet he still started 14 games. And if he was forced to play injured, it tells you about the depth they had at the position.

 

[Gildong Sack]

Rodgers was #15 of 15 in postseason passer rating. Lower than CJ Stroud, who threw 5 interceptions in two playoff games. Lower than Jarrett Stidham, who played in a blizzard and hadn't attempted a pass in an NFL game since 2023.

But let's all rejoice that the GOAT is back, and he's only a year older!

It's a team sport and this team might be better than last years. We don't rejoice,but it is what is is.

It will be interesting though.

 

[topseed]

Don't worry, we'll get to do this all over again next off season, Rodgers will play just good enough where he thinks he has another year left.

That thought has already crossed my mind. And it is scary, indeed. lol

 

[topseed]

They are going to get to evaluate Howard. All signs point to him being #2 and Rodgers will be injured at some point enough to miss a game or two.

Sure it's not a complete season, but if you are 2 you prepare like the starter. Howard will show out if he has enough "it" or he won't. We shall see.

I'm not going to go all @Fiji Mariner and wish an injury on the guy, but put it this way: I won't be crying in my beer should 2023 repeat itself for Rodgers.

 

[TDX27]

The only option the Steelers should be looking at is Rodgers is now QB1. Howard is QB2 but could battle Allar (QB3) depending on how things play out. Rudolph is QB4 and on the outside looking in. If there are no injuries, Rudolph should be the one getting cut. They have to look to the future. They ignored it last year and this year by bringing back Rodgers. Rudolph is nothing more than a backup at this point in his career. You have to give Howard and Allar every chance possible this year and at least next year (if not one year past that) to see what they have and if we have to draft yet another QB. Here's hoping they make the right decisions.

 

[Litos]

Yet he still started 14 games. And if he was forced to play injured, it tells you about the depth they had at the position.

Exactly, they brought new talent to substitute an injured vet past his prime.

 

[topseed]

It's a team sport and this team might be better than last years. We don't rejoice,but it is what is is.

It will be interesting though.

So when Rodgers is top twelve in passer rating and touchdowns, it's because he's "very good." When he's dead last in passer rating with 0 touchdowns and a pick-six, "it's a team sport." Got it.

 

[topseed]

Exactly, they brought new talent to substitute an injured vet past his prime.

No doubt that their line will be better in 2027 and beyond as these young guys develop. This year? We'll see.

 

[Gildong Sack]

So when Rodgers is top twelve in passer rating and touchdowns, it's because he's "very good." When he's dead last in passer rating with 0 touchdowns and a pick-six, "it's a team sport." Got it.

Top 12 for the whole season..you are talking playoffs where the O-line deficiencies and not having a legit #2 wide out does not pan out against the top teams/top defenses.

 

[Coryea]

Top 12 for the whole season..you are talking playoffs where the O-line deficiencies and not having a legit #2 wide out does not pan out against the top teams/top defenses.

Who was Maye throwing to? 33 year old Diggs and ?, they didn't have any #2's that scared anyone. Nix top Wr's were 30yr old Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin a 4th round pick in 24. Seattle didn't have anyone taking the pressure off JSN, their second leading wr had 47 catches. The team with the best WR duo in the NFL hasn't made the playoffs in like 4 seasons.

Pittman is a definite upgrade to what we had, but he's not scaring anyone. The oline is still iffy, Jones won't be ready, guys are going to move, Dowdle will replace Gainwell, better runner, but not the pass catcher Gainwell was. I don't see a huge upgrade to the offense roster wise.

 

[Gildong Sack]

Who was Maye throwing to? 33 year old Diggs and ?, they didn't have any #2's that scared anyone. Nix top Wr's were 30yr old Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin a 4th round pick in 24. Seattle didn't have anyone taking the pressure off JSN, their second leading wr had 47 catches. The team with the best WR duo in the NFL hasn't made the playoffs in like 4 seasons.

This again....

This falls under "it's a team sport"

Who is their respective coaching staffs? What is their philosophy?

Who was injured or not injured on each respective team on offense and for how long?


What was their respective defenses like? Did they have to play from behind often changing what they do on offense...or not?

What was their respective running games like?

And on and on....we know what we had: a leaky O-line, Arthur Smith's conservative philosophy, no one very good not named Metcalf, and a Mike Tomlin " living in your fears" overall philosophy.

We have a different team with different coaching staff. Let's see what happens, then it would be logical to bitsh non stop if we do the same ol same ol.

I've gone back and forth with you on this, but you love apples and oranges comparisons.

 

[topseed]

Top 12 for the whole season..you are talking playoffs where the O-line deficiencies and not having a legit #2 wide out does not pan out against the top teams/top defenses.

I fact-checked your stats, and Rodgers was not 12th in passer rating, he was 14th. And he was 13th in touchdown passes. However, of the 15 quarterbacks who started at least 16 games last year, he was ahead of only Bryce Young and Cam Ward on that list.

So in actuality, those regular season numbers are average at best, and a God-awful performance against a good playoff defense (which is typically the case in the postseason) doesn't strengthen your case to try it again this year, when Rodgers is older and even more frail.

 

[Gildong Sack]

I fact-checked your stats, and Rodgers was not 12th in passer rating, he was 14th. And he was 13th in touchdown passes. However, of the 15 quarterbacks who started at least 16 games last year, he was ahead of only Bryce Young and Cam Ward on that list.

So in actuality, those regular season numbers are average at best, and a God-awful performance against a good playoff defense (which is typically the case in the postseason) doesn't strengthen your case to try it again this year, when Rodgers is older and even more frail.

I saw 12th, but it doesn't matter. New players, new staff. Let's see how it pans out.

If the O-line sucks, more than likely Rodgers gets injured and we get to see Howard.

 

[Coryea]

This again....

This falls under "it's a team sport"

Who is their respective coaching staffs? What is their philosophy?

Who was injured or not injured on each respective team on offense and for how long?


What was their respective defenses like? Did they have to play from behind often changing what they do on offense...or not?

What was their respective running games like?

And on and on....we know what we had: a leaky O-line, Arthur Smith's conservative philosophy, no one very good not named Metcalf, and a Mike Tomlin " living in your fears" overall philosophy.

We have a different team with different coaching staff. Let's see what happens, then it would be logical to bitsh non stop if we do the same ol same ol.

I've gone back and forth with you on this, but you love apples and oranges comparisons.

Or you love turning everything into apples and oranges.

So when we had the worst OC in team history, possibly the worse Oline in team history, and our WR's were Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool, a rookie RB, and a rookie TE. A living in his fear head coach, how the hell did Dionte Johnson have 107 catches 1100 yards and 8 TD's??? Does that fall under the "it's a teams sports" But we find every excuse in the world for DK the #4 paid WR in the NFL to why he didn't have that great of a season.

 

[Gildong Sack]

Or you love turning everything into apples and oranges.

So when we had the worst OC in team history, possibly the worse Oline in team history, and our WR's were Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool, a rookie RB, and a rookie TE. A living in his fear head coach, how the hell did Dionte Johnson have 107 catches 1100 yards and 8 TD's??? Does that fall under the "it's a teams sports" But we find every excuse in the world for DK the #4 paid WR in the NFL to why he didn't have that great of a season.

You can't see it can you? You still press on with the fallacious comparisions.

You actually think Dionte Johnson is better than DK? LOL...of course not, but because you are Coryea in the next reply post you will say it was because of Ben.

Claypool had almost 1,000 yards that year as well, so we had decent receivers and weren't one dimensional at wide out. Muth had 500 yards...Smith didn't even use Muth last year.

Najee had 1200 yards rushing that year, was it because of Ben? Did that rushing attack help the passing game?

We had the 20th ranked defense that year. How many times in that season did we have to pass to stay in games?

What was opponent defensive secondary strength per team that year....turn over ratio?

Again dude..apples and oranges.

Not taking anything away from Ben as he played great under Canada's idiotic offense, but it is hard to compare different years and different players, even so we can see that team was built different at the skill positions.

 

[Coryea]

You can't see it can you? You still press on with the fallacious comparisions.

You actually think Dionte Johnson is better than DK? LOL...of course not, but because you are Coryea in the next reply post you will say it was because of Ben.

Claypool had almost 1,000 yards that year as well, so we had decent receivers and weren't one dimensional at wide out. Muth had 500 yards...Smith didn't even use Muth last year.

Najee had 1200 yards rushing that year, was it because of Ben? Did that rushing attack help the passing game?

We had the 20th ranked defense that year. How many times in that season did we have to pass to stay in games?

What was opponent defensive secondary strength per team that year....turn over ratio?

Again dude..apples and oranges.

Not taking anything away from Ben as he played great under Canada's idiotic offense, but it is hard to compare different years and different players, even so we can see that team was built different at the skill positions.

You can't see it can you, it's possible for a HOF QB and Top tier WR to put up good numbers without everything around them being perfect.
You used every excuse for DK and Rodgers last year, no Oline, no #2, played under the live in your fears Tomlin, wasn't that good of system, etc. etc. That offense was more hamstrung than last years and they still put up solid numbers. Dionte or Chase aren't anything near what DK is. We had the 17th rank d in points this past year, only 3 better than then, but worse in yards allowed.
Pat played 70% of the snaps still this past season and had 486 yards, he and Washington combined for over 800 yards, he was a rookie then. Just maybe, Rodgers and DK aren't as good as you think they are.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Preseason is going to be a fun watch.

This whole season will be epic. I had forgotten this feeling of excitement. Not be cause of Rodgers, but combined with McCarthy, with a ##2 wr, with added rb dowdle and the revamped I line, with a new online coach. With germy competing with roman. The qb's competing. And Rodgers will go down and look feeble. Too many things to think about.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Ps, ben sucked tom.