Total Pro Sports
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay gave an encouraging evaluation of new teammate Aaron Rodgers, and it should have the rest of the NFL on notice.
After waiting for his decision for nearly three months, the Steelers got word from Aaron Rodgers that he wanted to continue playing. The two sides agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $19.5 million, including $10 million in guarantees.
Many fans and analysts were critical of the move, however, as they believe the 41-year-old Rodgers is past his best-before date. But during an interview with ESPN’s Mina Kimes, Darius Slay dropped a positive evaluation on his new teammate that should have Steelers fans optimistic:
“It’s not no coverage he’s seen, not nothing he don’t know. So that’s just great for us. I’ve been playing against him – we was in the same division for eight years. I done played him over 20-30 times. Man, he’s still doing what he does.”
“His arm strength’s still there. Of course, it’s not like he’s 20, but it’s still the fact that he can still get the ball to a position where the receiver can make a play on it.”
Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tear minutes into his 2023 debut with the New York Jets and missed the remainder of the year. Though the Jets were a colossal failure in 2024, Rodgers still finished with a respectable statline: A 63.0 completion percentage for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Slay signed with the Steelers after he was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles in a cap-saving move. The six-time Pro Bowler won his first Super Bowl ring last season, helping the Eagles get past the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
Rodgers and Slay faced off aplenty during their tenures with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, respectively. Slay spent his first seven NFL seasons (2013 to 2019) with Detroit before getting traded to Philadelphia.
Rodgers and Slay will make their Pittsburgh Steelers’ debuts together on Sept. 7, when the club visits the Jets at MetLife Stadium. The NFL was wise to schedule a Steelers-Jets matchup in the opener, knowing Rodgers was likely to sign with Mike Tomlin’s group.
Fittingly, the Jets’ starting quarterback is Justin Fields, who signed a two-year deal after a one-year stint with the Steelers.
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