Experts share bleak outlook for Aaron Rodgers' season with Steelers

Recent videos of quarterback Aaron Rodgers practicing ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 1 game at the New York Jets sparked concerns regarding what Rodgers will offer the Steelers during what may become his final NFL season as an active player. 

On Thursday, The Athletic revealed that the Steelers received the most votes (seven) out of 46 responses from staff members for "which team will be the biggest disappointment" of the 2025 campaign. 

Is Aaron Rodgers "a shell of himself?"

"The expectation, of course, is for the Steelers to make the playoffs for a third straight year and, more importantly, win their first playoff game since 2016," Indianapolis Colts beat writer James Boyd said. "But that won't happen with a 41-year-old Rodgers, who looked like a shell of himself, at least from a mobility standpoint, in 2024. In Rodgers' first season since tearing his Achilles in 2023, he wasn't able to extend plays as he had done earlier in his career. Without that improvisation, which made Rodgers so special over the years, Pittsburgh won't be doing anything worthwhile."

Rodgers often looked past his prime while featuring for the Jets last season coming off the torn Achilles he suffered in September 2023. That said, he was visibly slowed by injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain, a serious hamstring problem and a hip issue last fall. It also seems like he clashed with at least some members of the Jets offense during his final campaign with the organization.

Over the last four games of his Jets tenure, Rodgers tossed eight touchdown passes and three interceptions. Nevertheless, Kansas City Chiefs beat writer Jesse Newell wrote that "this feels like the first time [Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin will] go below eight wins in his 19 seasons."

Meanwhile, NFL columnist Jon Greenberg thinks this will be the year that failing to find a long-term answer at quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger's retirement in January 2022 will catch up with Tomlin. 

"Very worried" about the Pittsburgh Steelers?

"I'm very worried about the Pittsburgh Steelers," Greenberg added. "The Aaron Rodgers move could work, sure, but I think this team has been kicking the can down the road too long at QB, and despite the defense, this could be the year they finish below .500."

As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at +110 betting odds to make the playoffs this season. However, ESPN Bet had the Steelers as 2.5-point betting favorites for Sunday's showdown with the Jets. 

Rodgers allegedly doesn't have "revenge" on his mind this week, but The Athletic's NFL Staff may have given him some bulletin-board material as he prepares to face the Jets at MetLife Stadium.