Steelers Now
UNITY TWP, Pa. – Newly acquired Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers began his first training camp in Pittsburgh with a moment he’d likely prefer to forget, his first pass during team drills was intercepted by linebacker Patrick Queen.
But if Rodgers was rattled, he didn’t show it.
“It’s good to get it out of the way,” Rodgers said. “When anybody’s watched me practice over the years, I like to try certain throws at certain times. Anybody that’s watched me in games knows I’ve been pretty stellar at taking care of the football. So this will be fixed for sure.”
It’s hard to argue with Rodgers’ track record. Over the course of his prolific career, the four-time MVP holds the lowest interception rate in NFL history among quarterbacks with over 3,000 pass attempts, a remarkable 1.4 percent. Ball security has been a cornerstone of his game for nearly two decades.
Still, it’s not the ideal start to camp. But for a 40-year-old veteran with more than 60,000 career passing yards, this moment is more likely a result of offseason rust than any larger concern.
The bigger storyline isn’t the interception, it’s the anticipation surrounding Rodgers’ final act. After signing with Pittsburgh this offseason, expectations are sky-high. The Steelers believe Rodgers can be the missing piece in a Super Bowl-caliber roster, and fans are eager to see if he can deliver one last championship run.
Rodgers flashed his arm talent during offseason workouts, but quarterbacks in their 40s are always under the microscope. One errant throw can quickly spark questions about decline, fair or not.
However, Rodgers knows what this time at St. Vincent College is all about: shaking off the rust, building timing with his new receivers, and settling into the Steelers’ offense. And if any quarterback understands how to prepare for the long haul, it’s him.
Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from St. Vincent College.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Rodgers Shakes Off Rust with Interception on First Throw at Camp
