Sky Sports’ Inside the Huddle raised a provocative question this week: should the Pittsburgh Steelers bench veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers? The four-time NFL MVP, who turned 42 on December 2, has been battling form issues and injuries since joining Pittsburgh.
Rodgers is playing through at least three fractures in his left wrist and has persisted in wanting to stay on the field. He missed a tight 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears, and the Steelers then dropped a 7-26 outing to the Buffalo Bills. After a strong 4-1 start that created comfortable separation in the division, Pittsburgh has lost five of its last seven games.
Sky Sports’ Phoebe Schecter said benching Rodgers is easier asked than done, noting the practical and emotional difficulties of removing a player of his stature — especially with head coach Mike Tomlin’s respect for the game’s history and for veteran leadership. Neil Reynolds agreed that Rodgers still brings pre-snap value and on-field coaching instincts, but added that Rodgers has not been playing well recently and that this stop hasn’t yielded the “victory lap” the quarterback may have wanted. Reynolds also suggested the end to Rodgers’ career could come full circle with a symbolic one-day contract in Green Bay.
Jeff Reinebold pointed to the physical toll of recent seasons: a broken nose from a heavy hit, the current wrist fractures that interfere with taking snaps from center, and the cumulative impact on performance. He warned the Steelers are in a precarious spot and even floated the possibility that a beaten-up AFC could allow a team with a sub-.500 record to take the division if contenders like the Bengals and others catch form.
Statistically, Rodgers’ first season in black and gold has been mixed. Through 10 games he has thrown for 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions, compiling a 97.7 passer rating — his highest rating since 2021 — but flashes of vintage Rodgers have been inconsistent.
Inside the Huddle also described the 2025 season as unusually chaotic: unexpected teams are in playoff contention while some preseason favorites have slipped. The Detroit Lions, for example, are outside NFC playoff spots; the Chicago Bears unexpectedly hold the top NFC seed; and the AFC leaderboard features the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars, with Buffalo holding the final spot.
As debates continue about Rodgers’ availability and the Steelers’ direction, fans can watch the 2025 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LX, or stream without a contract on NOW.