The Pittsburgh Steelers will close out their preseason on Thursday night when they travel to Bank of America Stadium to take on the Carolina Panthers.
Ahead of the contest, Panthers head coach Dave Canales revealed that the team will not play its starters for the final exhibition game, even after two lackluster showings from his group.
“We have two really important practices before we go into Pittsburgh. The starters will not play this upcoming week. Those practices become so valuable because it’s the last time we have this whole group together and we’re able to get the intensities that we want going into the season,” Canales said.
As for the Steelers, they’re taking a different approach and will play most of their starters for the first time this preseason.
But is Aaron Rodgers among them? Here’s what we know.
Is Aaron Rodgers playing tonight?
According to Joe Rutter of TribLive.com, head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that all healthy starters but four will be playing on Thursday night.
The list of healthy starters who aren’t suiting up includes quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver DK Metcalf, edge rusher T.J. Watt and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
“I’m comfortable with what I’m seeing out here,” Tomlin said of Rodgers. “Obviously, if I weren’t, I would be playing him.”
Rodgers had said before preseason Week 1 that he was willing to play snaps in the preseason if Tomlin wanted him to.
“It’s an interesting conversation,” he said. “I think Mike and I have that at some point. I don’t think it’s in the plan for me to play this week, but whatever Mike wants to do, I’m fully on board.”
So, it would appear Rodgers not playing in the preseason was a Tomlin decision, not a Rodgers decision.
Even with his experience, it would’ve made sense for Rodgers to play at least a few series given the fact that he’s in a new offense and is throwing to guys he’s never played with.
We’ll see if the lack of snaps has any impact on Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense when Pittsburgh opens its season on Sept. 7 in New York against the Jets.
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