Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a full participant in practice for the second straight day and has no designation on the injury report today.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Rodgers is ‘all systems go’ for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium.
“He was a full participant today with no designation for the game,” said Tomlin. “So, it’s all systems go.”
Rodgers suffered a broken wrist in the team’s Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, missing the second half of that game and last week’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Tomlin said it was the amount of work Rodgers was able to do this week that made him a go.
“Just more reps, certainly,” said Tomlin. “But, certainly it’s another week, and so I’m sure there’s more comfort there, not only in him, but in the medical experts.”
When asked if he was able to take snaps under center, Tomlin confirmed he was.
Tomlin also confirmed that receiver DK Metcalf and linebacker Alex Highsmith are good to go when asked and said there is no injury designation.
It’s no surprise that left tackle Broderick Jones and rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon are both ruled out, as Tomlin indicated that earlier in the week during his press conference.
Without Jones, Tomlin said it will be veteran Andrus Peat at left tackle.
“You’ve got to prepare like you always prepare,” said Peat. “Being a reserve, you’ve got to prepare like you’re starting every week and just get in a good habit. So, I am preparing like I always do.”
Peat has been inactive for all but one game this season, but experience is something he definitely doesn’t lack.
Peat said there is an adjustment when you don’t play most of the season to suddenly getting more reps in practice and possibly starting.
“Definitely,” said Peat. “Going through the season you get into a rhythm the more games you play. I feel like I played 11 years, so I know what to do.”
Peat, who signed with the Steelers during training camp, was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, spending nine seasons with them. He appeared in 111 games, with 102 starts for the Saints, and was named to the Pro Bowl three times (2018-2020).
Peat signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, appearing in 15 games, starting one.
Without Harmon in the lineup this week, it will potentially be a committee that is asked to step up and play, including rookie Yahya Black, as well as Logan Lee, Broderic Martin-Rhodes and Esezi Otomewo.
“Obviously, Yahya, who’s been playing, Broderic, Logan, we got some young guys, Esezi, that we’ll be rotating around in there to see who can replace him,” said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “Those will be the guys, those will be the candidates.
“(Derrick’s) been doing really good. I thought he was really growing as a football player and coming along and he’s kind of what we thought he was when we drafted him. So, I’m glad we got him and I’m hoping to get him back fast.”
Other than Black, the three candidates to step in and help haven’t seen much playing time combined this season. But it’s all about seizing your opportunity.
“Logan, last year basically was hurt so this year’s his first full year and you can see he’s a really sharp guy, understands it, plays with good leverage and pad level and stuff like that,” said Austin. “You’ll see that. Broderic, we just got him, but what you see is a really big guy that has good athletic move around. He’s a big guy that moves well and is really athletic.
“So, excited to see how these guys finish up practice this week and as we move towards the weekend and decide who’s going be that guy that that gets a helmet and has an opportunity to help us.”
For the Bills, they have ruled out left tackle Dion Dawkins, right tackle Spencer Brown, linebacker Terrel Bernard and receiver Curtis Samuel.
The full injury and status report are below.
