How Steelers' Aaron Rodgers feels about being a villain for Bears fans

Some have assumed that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will want to play with a small fracture in his left (non-throwing) wrist when the 6-4 Pittsburgh Steelers face the 7-3 Chicago Bears at Soldier Field this Sunday due to his long history of tormenting Chicago fans while with the Green Bay Packers. 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Rodgers was asked if he still embraces the villain role as it pertains to going up against the Bears. 

Can Aaron Rodgers, Bears fans let bygones be bygones?

"I'd rather not be," Rodgers responded, per Nick Shook of the NFL's website. "I mean, I'm not in Green Bay anymore. I feel like we can let bygones be bygones. Maybe I can, I guess. It's a great rivalry. In the history of all sports, you talk about the Lakers and the Celtics, and the Red Sox and the Yankees, you've got to talk about the Packers and the Bears. There's been some great memories there."

Earlier in the week, NBC Chicago noted that Rodgers accumulated a career 24-5 regular-season record against the Bears while featuring for the Packers from 2005-22 season. He passed for 64 touchdowns with 10 interceptions over those outings. 

"There's incentive for every opponent, but I have enjoyed many a Sunday and Monday and Thursdays in that city," Rodgers added about Chicago. "It's a great sports town, phenomenal sports fans and a great place to play."

Mason Rudolph "chomping at the bit" to play against Bears

The Steelers reportedly could wait until Friday or Saturday to reveal Rodgers' status for the Bears game. Backup Mason Rudolph filled in for Rodgers after the future Hall of Famer suffered his injury during Pittsburgh's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16 and completed 12-of-16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. 

Rudolph hasn't given Bears fans nightmares over the years but nevertheless is excited at the thought that he could make his first start of the season ahead of Thanksgiving. 

"You have to be chomping at the bit every time your number's called, otherwise you're going to miss an opportunity, and you won't be in the right mental state," Rudolph said on Wednesday, according to Jim Wexell of the Steelers' website. "But I've been back and forth. I got plenty of experience of going back and forth in different roles."

As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had the Steelers as 2.5-point underdogs against the Bears.