Despite a wrist injury, Aaron Rodgers eyes a risky return against his long-hated Bears, potentially jeopardizing his future for a fleeting rivalry game.
Even though Aaron Rodgers is no longer with the Green Bay Packers, it seems he still has some deep hatred for the Chicago Bears.
Bears fans are definitely glad he's not in the NFC North anymore, as he finished his Green Bay career with a 24-5 record against Chicago.
He played for the Packers from 2005-2022 and was then traded to the New York Jets. He spent two seasons with the Jets before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.
Rodgers played in the first half of the Steelers' game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, he suffered a wrist injury and wasn't able to play in the second half, leaving backup Mason Rudolph at quarterback.
The Steelers won 34-12 in Rodgers' absence. It initially appeared the injury would require surgery, but NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported it wouldn't, and he is pushing to play in Sunday's game.
Doctors must still clear him, as his status for Week 12 remains uncertain.
Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed what Pelissero reported, noting that Rodgers' recovery is about the functionality of his wrist going forward, via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
"It's about bracing it and securing it for his comfort and safety, and then it's about how functional it is," Tomlin said.
It's clear that Rodgers really wants a shot at playing his former rival, but doing so could be extremely dangerous.
If the 41-year-old plays with the injured wrist and further damages it, it could be devastating in the long term. Letting Rudolph play against the Bears may not result in a win for the Steelers, but it would be better for Rodgers in the future.
Pittsburgh also has much more important games coming up in the back half of its schedule, especially since the Bears aren't even from the same side of the NFL.
The Steelers split the season series with the Bengals, but still have to play the Baltimore Ravens twice and the Cleveland Browns once more before the end of the regular season.
Something to monitor will be how often Rodgers practices ahead of Sunday. Injury reports over the next few days could give fans an idea of whether he'll play against the Bears.
Rodgers has accounted for 1,969 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.
Kickoff from Soldier Field will be at noon CT on CBS as Rodgers faces his former hated rival. The question is whether it will be from the sidelines or under center for the Steelers?