Aaron Rodgers brought some nostalgia to his Steelers debut, throwing four touchdowns in a thrilling 34-32 win over the Jets.
He seemed “very encouraged” by what he learned from Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger, although the seasoned quarterback had some concerns.
“The bright side is that Aaron was throwing well. He knows how to spread the ball around—short passes, screens—he was effective overall,” Roethlisberger mentioned during his “Footbahlin” podcast on Tuesday.
However, he did point out that there were four sacks—each one, he felt, could be attributed to Rodgers. It seems like he had a few rough moments out there. “He played some fakes but had a guy right in his face. Getting hit hard, especially at his age, just isn’t good,” he cautioned.
Rodgers faced a tough defense, returning to MetLife Stadium where he was sacked four times, but he managed to rack up 244 passing yards, securing a win for a fresh start to the season.
This former MVP, who signed a one-year deal with the Steelers in the off-season, savored the win, particularly considering the drama that surrounded his departure from the Jets.
“I was glad to take a win against everyone connected with the Jets,” Rodgers said. “I think there were people in the organization who maybe doubted I could still perform. It felt good to show them I still got it.”
Rodgers made a splash in New York back in 2023, but unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Last season, he went 5-12 with the Jets, leading to the firing of head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, making way for a new regime under coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Moogie.
Having enjoyed a successful 18-year career with the Steelers, Roethlisberger has urged Rodgers to bolster protection around him if he wants to make a serious championship run this year. “If we don’t improve on that front, I don’t see him lasting long as a quarterback, and it could be a challenging season,” he expressed.
The Steelers will face the Seahawks at home for their opener this Sunday at 1 PM.
