The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a major offseason trade to acquire DK Metcalf. The only problem at the time? They didn’t have a quarterback. Now, that’s changed — the Steelers have Aaron Rodgers under center to throw to Metcalf, even if it’s likely just for one season. While not officially confirmed, Rodgers isn’t expected to play beyond this year.
“Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is it," said Rodgers. "That's why we just did a one-year deal. Steelers didn't need to put any extra years on that or anything, so this was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I've had.”
There was initial concern about whether Rodgers and Metcalf would mesh, especially given their differing play styles and intense personalities.
“Will a wideout who typically does most of his damage as an outside deep threat defeating man-to-man coverage grow frustrated playing with Rodgers, especially given their combustible on-field personas and his growing propensity to stay inside the numbers? (And especially given Rodgers’ own combustible on-field persona and propensity to telegraph shade at teammates who don’t run routes to his specifications?) Don’t be surprised, despite Rodgers' private workouts with Metcalf,” USA Today’s Nate Davis wrote.
On Wednesday, Rodgers addressed what makes Metcalf so valuable — and seemed to take a subtle shot at the rest of the league.
“He’s about the right stuff. He cares about it enough to watch the film and put in the time and take notes and ask questions and come over and sit next to me during the week … that’s unfortunately not the standard around the league,” Rodgers told the media.
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Rodgers and Metcalf are shaping up to be a great duo this season, and it all starts with how they prepare. The two had connected rooms during training camp, and it’s clear they’ve built a bond. Metcalf brings a rare work ethic in today’s NFL, and as a veteran, Rodgers clearly appreciates that. The Steelers appear to have something special brewing — and this early chemistry between two of their top players is a great sign.