Somehow it feels like a long time ago now, but it's not that long ago that Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers were doing a multi-month free agency dance with no clear end in sight.
Rodgers took a long, long time to actually sign his contract with the Steelers, even when it seemed clear and obvious that the only possible team he could wind up with was the one in Pittsburgh.
There's still a lot of uncertainty as to how it'll all work out with the 41-year old, future Hall of Fame quarterback.
In fact, "offensive cohesion" is what ESPN's Brooke Pryor calls the biggest concern for the Steelers heading into the 2025 regular season.
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Here's how Pryor sums up the issues:
"The Steelers were OK with QB Aaron Rodgers taking his time to sign in the offseason, but now he, his offensive options and line must expedite their chemistry. Not only does Rodgers have to develop a strong connection with wide receivers, including DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson, in a condensed timeframe, but he also has to work with young offensive linemen to understand his cadence -- all without playing snaps together in preseason games. Adding to the challenge is Broderick Jones moving from right tackle to left tackle and a new-look backfield after the departure of Najee Harris."
The Steelers face a solid defense right off the bat, and a team Rodgers is familiar with.
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Pittsburgh clashes with the New York Jets in Week 1. Rodgers, of course, spent the past two seasons with the Jets. He lasted only four snaps in 2023 before tearing his Achilles, then went 5-12 in 2024.
On the other side is Justin Fields, who was just with the Steelers last year and went 4-2 as a starter before being benched for Russell Wilson.
After not playing in the preseason, Rodgers will have a lot to prove right off the bat. And if there's some rustiness, or a bunch of guys not on the same page, it could be a start to the season that Pittsburgh doesn't want to see.
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