Not 'real football,' Aaron Rodgers to sit preseason with most Steelers' starters

Field Level Media
15 Aug 2025, 01:25 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Aaron Rodgers is out for the Steelers this week, all according to the plan in Pittsburgh, with Mason Rudolph slated to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.

Rodgers, wide receiver DK Metcalf, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and defensive end Cam Heyward are among the first-team stars who'll be in street clothes for the Steelers' second game of the preseason.

Rudolph rejoined the Steelers after one season with the Tennessee Titans and spent most of the offseason operating the starting offense.

Rodgers, who was released by the New York Jets, said he was willing to play if the coaches prefer. But head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier in camp he was not planning to use Rodgers because of his '21 years (experience) and cumulative snap total' in his career.

'If (Tomlin) wants me to play, I'll play. If not, then I won't,' Rodgers said. 'Preseason football is not necessarily real football, because defenses don't really do a lot.'

Rodgers, 41, did not play last preseason with the Jets. He completed 5 of 8 passes in his first preseason in New York (2023), his only preseason action since he completed 2 of 4 passes with one TD for the Packers in the 2018 exhibition stretch.

The Steelers beat Jacksonville 31-25 in their preseason opener last week and used Skylar Thompson in relief of Rudolph with Rodgers sporting a jacket and headset on the sideline.

Thompson threw three touchdown passes and completed 20 of 28 attempts for 233 yards.

--Field Level Media

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Cambodian Times.

More Information

null in null

International

Section

Ukraine vows to hold remaining 30% of Donetsk despite peace offer

KYIV, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected a proposal that would see Ukraine withdraw from the roughly...

800 National Guard troops sent to Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump this week deployed 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., temporarily assuming...

India’s Supreme Court orders ‘sheltering’ of stray dogs in New Delhi

NEW DELHI, India: On August 11, India's Supreme Court ordered New Delhi's civic authorities to immediately begin capturing 5,000 stray...

Typhoon Podul prompts Taiwan evacuations, mass flight cancellations

TAIPEI, Taiwan: Southern and eastern Taiwan came to a standstill on August 13 as authorities cancelled hundreds of flights, shut down...

Gazans to give up 'Riviera of Middle East' for South Sudan?

TEL AVIV, Israel - The Associated Press is reporting that Israel is in talks with South Sudan about relocating much of the Gazan population...

Fatal attack on Atlanta police officer sparks massive police response

ATLANTA, Georgia: A tragic shooting unfolded outside the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta...

Sports

Section