Aaron Rodgers will not take the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they face his old team, the Green Bay Packers, in Thursday night's preseason game.
It's not a surprise, given Rodgers' age and experience with head coach Mike McCarthy's offensive scheme from their time together in Green Bay. Rodgers has been around professional football for over two decades and has already established himself as a future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rodgers doesn't see any advantages to playing preseason football that translate to "real football." He said, "It's preseason. It's not real football. So if I do, great. If not, great." Rodgers also noted that what you can learn from the preseason is different from what it used to be, with teams not running anything and joint practices becoming a waste of time.
The Steelers will likely rely on Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie signal-caller Drew Allar against the Packers. Allar, a third-round draft pick, is particularly intriguing, suggesting the Steelers have some investment in his overall development as a potential quarterback of the future.
Rodgers' comments on preseason football are not entirely surprising, especially given his experience and status as a veteran quarterback. However, his perspective does highlight the changing nature of the preseason, where teams no longer run complex schemes and joint practices have lost their value.
The Steelers' decision to sit Rodgers in the preseason opener is a reflection of his confidence in his abilities and his desire to focus on the regular season. As he noted, "Preseason's a lot different. Teams don't run anything anymore. They just really don't."
Rodgers' absence will likely be felt by the Steelers' fans, who may be eager to see him in action against his old team. However, the real story here is the Steelers' development of their young quarterback, Drew Allar, who will likely get significant playing time against the Packers.
The Steelers' quarterback situation is one to watch as the preseason unfolds, with Allar's performance in particular garnering attention. Will he be able to make a case for himself as a potential starter, or will the Steelers stick with their veteran quarterbacks? Only time will tell.
Source: Yahoo Sports