The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a fracture in his left wrist during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, will seek to return to training on Thursday. Rodgers, although he couldn’t participate on Wednesday, expressed that his wrist feels better than on Sunday. “I am grateful to be able to work today with the head athletic trainer, Gabe Amponsah, and focus on rehabilitation. I will try to return to the field tomorrow and see what I can do,” he commented. However, the exact date to determine his participation in the Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears is still unclear. Rodgers emphasized that to play against the Bears, he must be able to “protect” himself, prioritizing safety over pain management.
When asked if his availability would be decided before the game, Rodgers preferred to defer to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who mentioned that Friday would be a key day in this process. Rodgers also avoided commenting on whether he feels extra motivation to play on Sunday, given his history with the Bears. “There are incentives for every rival, but I’ve enjoyed many Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays in that city,” said Rodgers, who has a 24-5 record against the Bears in the regular season. “It’s a great sports city, with phenomenal fans and a great place to play.” Regarding whether he feels like the villain in the rivalry with the Bears, Rodgers smiled and added: “I’d rather not be; I’m not in Green Bay anymore. I feel like we can leave the past behind. It’s a great rivalry… I hope those fans can leave it behind. I’m sure they can’t, but I really enjoy the city.” Rodgers indicated that the Steelers’ medical staff is working on finding a splint for his injured wrist. The quarterback noted that, for now, it is more comfortable for him to receive the balls from the shotgun formation, although the goal is to be able to do it from under center. Rodgers confirmed that his injury is not an aggravation of a pre-existing problem, but rather occurred on a play in the second quarter against the Bengals, when he fell backward under pressure. After throwing the ball out of the end zone, he landed awkwardly on his wrist. Although he played one more play before halftime, he did not return to the field afterwards. Instead, Rudolph completed 12 of 16 attempts for 126 yards and a touchdown in two offensive possessions. On Wednesday, Rudolph took first-team practice reps, backed up by rookie Will Howard. Rodgers praised Rudolph, describing him as a great backup and a professional ready to play. Rudolph is used to springing into action at the last minute and preparing for moments that might not come. Since being drafted by the Steelers in the third round in 2018, Rudolph has started 13 games and participated in 24 in total.It’s a security issue.
Aaron Rodgers
