The Pittsburgh Steelers head into Week 12 clinging to a one-game lead in the AFC North. That makes the availability of starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers a hotly debated topic in the Steel City. The status of the 41-year-old signal caller will be a hot button issue for head coach Mike Tomlin as the team travels to Chicago. Rodgers has a fracture in his left wrist, but it will not require surgery. His head coach told reporters on Tuesday that no decision about his starting quarterback will be made until later in the week.
The hope in Pittsburgh is that Rodgers can get back onto the practice field before any decision is made regarding his status for the Bears game. Even if Rodgers does seem to be healthy enough to play, he will be diminished by his injury. That puts the decision-makers in Pittsburgh in a tough spot. Play him and risk exposing the veteran to a more serious injury. Leave him on the bench and risk losing a key game that could ultimately cost them a playoff berth.
Why the Steelers should play Aaron Rodgers against the Bears
Playing the long game with the health of a 41-year-old does not make a lot of sense. Any value the Steelers can extract from Rodgers has to be done this season. It's not as if they risk his career if he suffers a more serious injury against the Bears.
There's also the small matter that Rodgers gives his team the best chance to win. He's no longer the perennial MVP candidate he was in his prime, but he's still miles better than the likes of Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. Rudolph is nothing more than a journeyman, while Howard's inexperience makes him a poor bet to start in such a pivotal game.
The bottom line for Tomlin is that he needs to do everything he can to win the AFC North this year. Starting Rodgers against the Bears gives him the best chance of upping his team's record to 7-4. That might not seem like a massive victory, but it would be enough to keep Pittsburgh ahead of the Ravens in the race for the AFC North crown.
Why the Steelers should give Aaron Rodgers a week off
Trying to protect Aaron Rodgers for the rest of this season is not an example of playing the long game. The Steelers could easily decide to give Rodgers one week off to heal his body before making their stretch run.
Suffering an injury to his non-throwing hand isn't a disaster for Rodgers, but it will be a target for a Bears defense that will be anxious to chase the quarterback on Sunday. One awkward fall for Rodgers could see him suffer another injury. That might end his season and perhaps his career.
The AFC North race will not be won or loss in Week 12. A loss would not doom the Steelers in their race to win the division. They would still have plenty of time to fend off the Ravens even if they lost to the Bears.
Pittsburgh also has the defensive chops to give Chicago a fight, even if their offense doesn't move the ball that well. Caleb Williams is a quarterback who can be baited into mistakes. Don't put it past Tomlin and his defensive staff to forge a game plan that coaxes the precocious signal-caller into multiple turners.
Will the Steelers start Aaron Rodgers against the Bears?
As long as the medical staff gives Rodgers the green light to play it's almost a certainty that he'll start for the Steelers against the Bears. Tomlin knows he's the best quarterback on his roster. He also knows that Rodgers might have a mental outburst if Pittsburgh tries to leave him on the bench.
Expect him to start the important game against Chicago.