Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has landed a rather surprising take from an NFL executive.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers in free agency, a whole lot of people didn't take it very seriously. They wondered how much Rodgers had left in the tank after a 5-12 season with the New York Jets, and if we are being honest, many were rooting for his demise.
But six games into the season, it may be time to admit that Rodgers can still play.
The 41-year-old has thrown for 1,270 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 68.6 percent of his passes and posting a 105 passer rating. He also has the Steelers at 4-2 and in first place in the AFC North.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic spoke with an NFL executive who revealed a rather significant take on Rodgers in the midst of his slight revival, one that will make Rodgers haters a bit agitated.
“Rodgers can still spin it,” the exec said. “He can still win at the line of scrimmage. The mobility isn’t what it was, but the Steelers help him with the running game. They’re going to keep winning games. He’s exactly what they needed there. If they can keep him upright and healthy, they’ll continue to get better.”
Is Rodgers the same quarterback from his Green Bay Packers days? No, and the fact that he has already thrown five picks is evidence of that. Remember: Rodgers only tossed double-digit interceptions three times in 15 seasons as the Packers' starting signal-caller.
However, those who felt that the four-time MVP was completely cooked were certainly exaggerating, especially considering that Rodgers was definitely not awful with the Jets last year, throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 picks.
Rodgers also does not exactly have a ton of weapons at his disposal in Pittsburgh. It's basically D.K. Metcalf and then a bunch of unproven pieces, and to make matters worse, Calvin Austin III is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.
The Steelers could try and add another wide receiver for Rodgers before the trade deadline, which could take their offense to the next level.
But actually, Pittsburgh's typically stout defense has been the bigger issue this season, as we saw last Thursday when Joe Flacco turned back the clock in Cincinnati.
Either way, the Steelers probably need to make a couple of move before Nov. 4 in order to cement themselves as Super Bowl contenders.