Ben Roethislberger revealed on his podcast Footbahlin that the Pittsburgh Steelers will get a better version of Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, as the veteran will have mentally overcome his Achilles injury.
“If this is it, you’re going to get everything he’s got probably. We’ll see what he’s got in the tank. He won’t even be thinking about the Achilles this year. I think you’ll get a better Aaron this year than you did last year. Just because the thought process of the Achilles, what can I do, what I can’t do, I don’t think he’ll think about it at all.”
Big Ben said the key factor is precisely that Aaron already played a full season knowing there was no relapse. That could propel the Steelers’ chances in the AFC North.
What was the injury to Aaron Rodgers?
Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon on September 11, 2023, during his debut game with the New York Jets. The injury occurred just four snaps into the opener when he was sacked against the Bills.
It was a devastating blow, as the Jets had acquired Rodgers in hopes he would lead them to a deep playoff run and even the Super Bowl. Despite the severity of the injury, Rodgers surprised many by maintaining an aggressive rehabilitation schedule.
In the 2024 season, Rodgers had a disappointing overall year during his comeback with a 5-12 record and the Jets failing to reach the playoffs. However, individually, his numbers were very similar to those of other quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes. A positive sign for the future.