Despite the injury, Rodgers logged two full practices to end the week, after which head coach Mike Tomlin said it’s all systems go for Week 13. The upcoming matchup against Buffalo is huge. After the Ravens’ Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals, Pittsburgh has a chance to open up a one-game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North before they meet in Week 14, the first of the two teams remaining this season.
Aside from the divisional aspect, a win over Buffalo would tie the Steelers and Bills at 7-5 and give Pittsburgh the edge if needed in the wild-card race.
Having Rodgers out there is important. Through 10 games in his first season in black and gold, he has thrown for 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 97.7 passer rating, his highest since 2021.
Rudolph was helpful but not spectacular against Chicago, going 24 of 31 for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also lost his twang.
Would Rodgers have been the difference with the Bears, who he has been chasing throughout his career? Maybe, but his willingness to play through subsequent injuries should certainly provide a boost to a team that has been on the rise of late.
After starting the season 4-1 to open up a comfortable league lead, the Steelers have lost four of their last six and entered Week 13 tied for the top spot with the Ravens. With this potentially being Rodgers’ last season in the NFL, he doesn’t seem content to miss out on another chance to turn things around.
Given his history, it’s little wonder he would push so hard to play through the pain.
Rodgers played nearly the entire 2018 season with a broken tibia after suffering the injury in Week 1. He also played his final season for the Packers in 2022 with a trauma fracture in his right thumb from Week 5 onward.
Green Bay notably missed the playoffs in both of those campaigns.
The Steelers will obviously be hoping to do better, and a win against the Bills on Sunday would go a long way toward that.