Steelers Concerns Mounting As Aaron Rodgers-Led Offense Struggles at Training Camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense faces up against one of the league's most experienced and expensive defenses in practice, but so far the output has been less than exciting - even despite the prominent offseason additions.

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, at 41-years-old, has experienced all there is to at this point of his career, but if he is serious about 2025 being a potential farewell tour, he needs to improve his play from where it has been the last couple years to end his career on a high note.

Some of that demand comes with the gunslinger having a competent receiving corps, but so far at training camp reports have had an underwhelming tone regarding Rodgers' familiarity offense. These thoughts will start to grow into major concerns if they persist near the regular season.

"While Rodgers’ quick release has married well with DK Metcalf’s ability to win on slants, the QB hasn’t been able to unlock his big-play threat downfield," The Athletic's Mike DeFabo says.

"During Sunday’s practice, Rodgers did find Metcalf on a deep cross thanks to some blown coverage," DeFabo added. "But that touchdown is the outlier in an offense that’s relied overwhelmingly on short, quick passes or checkdowns."

Metcalf was traded for, then signed to be the franchise receiver for years to come, but for the immediate future, he's supposed to be one of the best receivers Rodgers has ever had. Unfortunately that connection has not blossomed into all that it was imagined to be quite yet.

DeFabo recalled the duo's timing being off, as they missed each other on two vertical routes on Sunday and another go-ball the day before. Last week, Metcalf struggled separating downfield against the young corner Joey Porter Jr., forcing Rodgers to air-mail a pass out of bounds.

If this chemistry doesn't improve, someone within Pittsburgh's slim receiver depth will have to step up to be a reliable target. DeFabo names up-and-coming youngster Roman Wilson here, but that seems to be another lapse in connection with Rodgers. The rest of the room has been hard to judge as no one else has stood out positively so far at camp.

"On Sunday, Rodgers looked for [Roman] Wilson on a corner route. The uncatchable ball skipped well in front of the receiver," DeFabo said. "Either the throw was errant or they weren’t on the same page. ... After that misfire, Rodgers walked Wilson through how to run his route the way the QB wants. Meanwhile, [Calvin] Austin missed his second consecutive practice with an injury."

Rodgers has been known to be a tough critic of his receivers, but there should some level of awareness that he did not step into the league's best receiving corps by any means in Pittsburgh.

This all begs the question whether Rodgers should have signed with the Steelers (like everyone knew he was going to do) in a timely manner rather than drag out his dramatically-long free agency decision. That has obviously gotten him off behind the eight ball regarding his connectivity with the team.

There is still time for everyone to knock off rust and get on the same page, but until then, Steelers Nation will continue to nervously watch the passing game hopeful that things can turn around from what we've seen thus far.