Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Don’t expect Aaron Rodgers not to show up against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ veteran quarterback isn’t one to let bad games stack up.
“You see my career, I don’t have a lot of stinkers back-to-back over the years,” Rodgers said Wednesday after practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “It’s the same mindset every week, same approach — just expect greatness. When it doesn’t happen, you don’t shift up the plan. You just keep on going and trust the process.”
During a 13-6 loss to the moribund Cleveland Browns last Sunday, Rodgers went 21 for 39 for 168 yards. Worth noting, he was missing No. 1 receiver DK Metcalf, who was serving the first half of a two-game suspension for an interaction with a fan in Detroit. Rodgers will still be without Metcalf in a do-or-die matchup this week, though, and he’ll also be missing massive tight end Darnell Washington, who broke his arm against the Browns.
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith waved away Rodgers’ lackluster performance, stressing that he still had a shot to steal the game late.
“He still had a chance to get in and win the game,” Smith said. “I think you see a lot in those moments. … He did it in New York (in) Week 1. He did it in the Cincinnati shootout we got in (during) the first Cincy game. That ball (went in) the air 70 yards.”
Rodgers will have an arsenal of some mix of Calvin Austin III, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Adam Thielen, Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller against the Ravens. He’s relishing the preparation aspect of things as he readies for what could be his final NFL game.
“I embrace all the moments,” Rodgers said. “I enjoy all of it. There’s a lot of beauty in the mundane. The mundane is the Monday to Saturday when you can actually win games. I embrace that part of the job, and I’ve loved it. That’s why I’m still here, still playing.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Reveals Reason for Promise of Rebound vs. Ravens
