Despite the injury, Rodgers logged two full practices to end the week, after which head coach Mike Tomlin said all systems were go for Week 13. The upcoming matchup against Buffalo comes with enormous stakes. Following the Ravens’ Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals, Pittsburgh has a chance to open up a game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North ahead of playing each other in Week 14, the first of two matchups between the clubs remaining this season.
Beyond the divisional aspect, a win over Buffalo would make the Steelers and Bills an identical 7-5 and give Pittsburgh a leg up if needed in the wild-card race.
It’s imperative to have Rodgers out there. Through 10 games in his first season in black and gold, he’s thrown for 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 97.7 passer rating, his highest since 2021.
Mason Rudolph was serviceable but unspectacular versus Chicago, going 24 of 31 for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also lost a fumble.
Would Rodgers have been the difference against the Bears, whom he’s tormented throughout his career? Perhaps, but his willingness to play through injury in the aftermath should certainly provide a morale boost to a team that’s been spiraling of late.
After starting the season 4-1 to open up a comfortable divisional lead, the Steelers have lost four of their past six and went into Week 13 knotted at the top with the Ravens. With this potentially being Rodgers final season in the NFL, he seemingly isn’t content to miss another opportunity to turn things around.
Considering his history, there’s little surprise he’d push so hard to play through the pain.
Rodgers played nearly the entirety of the 2018 season with a tibial fracture after getting hurt in Week 1. He also played his final season for the Packers in 2022 with an avulsion fracture in his right thumb from Week 5 onward.
Green Bay notably missed the playoffs during both of those campaigns.
The Steelers will obviously hope to fare better, and a win against the Bills on Sunday would go a long way in doing so.
