Aaron Rodgers quickly gets back to work with Steelers at OTAs
PITTSBURGH — Steelers inside linebacker Payton Wilson He admitted he was a “little shocked” when he bumped into a well-recognized face as he walked into the Steelers’ follow facility Monday morning.
Days after agreeing to a one-year contract worth up to $25 millionquarterback Aaron Rodgers was among the many first individuals to arrive for the primary day of the Steelers’ voluntary OTA exercises.
Wilson noticed Rodgers simply after 7 a.m. because the 42-year-old quarterback left the constructing to take his bodily with head athletic coach Gabe Amponsah.
“I was walking in, and he was coming out, and it was good to see him,” Wilson mentioned. “I was a little shocked, definitely.”
After finishing his bodily, Rodgers returned to the power round 7:45 am, and the group formally introduced his signing because the group took the sector for an OTA follow simply after 11 am A yr in the past, Rodgers did not arrive in Pittsburgh and signal his contract till simply earlier than necessary minicamp.
“For him to come back early right now and be around the guys, obviously one of his previous coaches, I mean, it’s only positive,” kicker Chris Boswell he mentioned.
After going via group stretch alongside quarterbacks Will Howard, Drew Allar and Mason RudolphRodgers took the first-team reps in a portion of offensive set up throughout the media viewing interval. Rodgers and the offense began out with a run interval the place he handed the ball off a number of occasions earlier than ceding the spot to Howard so the Ohio State product might work with the second group. Rudolph got here in because the third quarterback, and Allar completed off the interval with the fourth string.
Then in a passing interval, Rodgers accomplished 5 throws: two to Michael Pittman Jr.., and one every to DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson and Pat Freiermuth.
Rodgers’ completion to Pittman, whom the Steelers acquired in a commerce with the Indianapolis Coltsgot here on the primary throw of the interval.
“Even on the first day, I made a couple of great throws, and I was like, wow, I’m really playing with Aaron,” Pittman mentioned. “It’s great. I mean, I get to play with another Hall of Fame quarterback because I got to play with Philip Rivers. I’m going to say he’s going to make it. So this is my second.”
Part of working with the probably Hall of Famer is getting used to what he likes and would not like — one thing Pittman mentioned was simple to determine.
“Oh yeah, because he’s going to tell you,” the receiver mentioned with fun. “But yeah, just the subtleties, like if there’s pressure, like bring eyes and stop in the spots and certain things like that.”
Pittman added that Rodgers hasn’t harped on him about not doing issues precisely to his customary — to date.
“It didn’t happen to me specifically yet,” he mentioned, “but like I’ve seen it from watching games. … He’s just a vet, just like a super vet quarterback, so he knows what he likes and what he doesn’t like. … if you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do, he’s going to let you know, which is good. I think it’s good to have that leadership.”
The two bought collectively for a throwing session earlier than Rodgers made up his thoughts about returning, however Pittman mentioned the quarterback did not tip his hand about his determination throughout that assembly. Instead, Pittman mentioned he came upon Rodgers was returning through Troy Fautanuwho labored at left sort out Monday after spending the 2025 season at proper sort out, mentioned he realized of Rodgers’ return on social media.
“We all found out on Instagram,” Fautanu mentioned. “I opened my app and saw Pat McAfee had posted it and I was like, ‘Here we go!'”
After working with Howard, Allar and Rudolph via the sooner offseason program, Fautanu mentioned it was a short adjustment to get used to Rodgers’ distinctive cadence once more.
“I was happy to see him back, obviously to have our leader back from last year, kind of having a year with him and kind of learning from him,” Fautanu mentioned. “We kind of just picked up where we left off.
“…Today had to get back used to [the cadence]as a result of we have been listening to Will and Mason and them the previous couple weeks. But as soon as he bought back in there after that first snap, it was type of like we by no means left.”
