On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers formally signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a one-year contract. They, just like the Jets earlier than them, are hoping the previous league MVP will assist give them the ultimate push they want to be able to grow to be a Tremendous Bowl contender.
[Editor’s note: The Steelers’ front office working through their logic on signing Aaron Rodgers.]
The Steelers have a troublesome path to the postseason this yr. Not solely are they in a really aggressive AFC North, however their division additionally has to face off in opposition to the NFC North in 2025, together with making a late-December journey to Ford Subject to tackle the Detroit Lions of their closing house recreation of the 2025 common season.
Rodgers can be 42 years outdated when he squares off with the Lions in Week 16, and he’s coming off two of the worst statistical seasons of his profession.
Simply how unhealthy have been they?
As Warren Sharp of Sharp Soccer Evaluation identified on social media, Rodgers had a decrease EPA, YPA, and accuracy in 2024 than Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Mason Rudolph—the trio of quarterbacks the Steelers elected to maneuver on from this offseason in favor of touchdown Rodgers. Let’s additionally not neglect that the Jets are taking a $49 million cap penalty to not have Rodgers on their roster. That’s fairly telling.
However hey, perhaps a change of surroundings will assist?
Positive, perhaps. However Rodgers hasn’t led a group to a profitable document (above .500) in three seasons, going again to his closing season with the Packers in 2022. After all, the Packers went 8-9 that season after dropping each video games to the Lions, primarily due to Kerby Joseph, who intercepted Rodgers 3 times throughout his rookie season.
And that leads us to our query of the day:
What number of interceptions will Kerby Joseph have in Week 16?
My reply: If I’m being conservative, I’d in all probability say one… however I’ll go together with my intestine and say two.
Joseph has solely improved since his rookie season, and the statistics assist this. As a rookie, three of Joseph’s 4 interceptions got here off Rodgers, however within the two seasons since, Joseph secured one other 13 interceptions, led the NFL interceptions final season, and was named an All-Professional in 2024, regardless of not having Rodgers on the schedule.
I’m anticipating the Steelers to battle to remain above .500—one thing Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has achieved each season within the NFL—and in a recreation the place Pittsburgh might want to win, I can envision Rodgers pushing the envelope and taking further probabilities (like he did within the Packers closing recreation of the 2022 season), and people are the moments wherein Joseph makes groups pay the worth.
So what do you assume? Tell us within the feedback under.
