The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
WILLIAM SNYDER FROM OLD FORGE, PA: With Aaron Rodgers really not playing in the preseason, how rusty will he be once the regular season starts since the only time he has thrown has been in practice?
ANSWER: Because no team plays its starting quarterback very much during the preseason, there often is very little difference between a couple of series – maybe – in a preseason game and no series at all during the preseason. All I can tell you is what I saw every day during practice at Saint Vincent College. Overall, I thought Aaron Rodgers looked in command and comfortable with the offense, and he was given only 1 day off over the course of 14 practices between July 24 and Aug. 12. Rodgers made some incredible throws, he moved around freely in buying time to make his throws, and he was as consistently on target as anyone I ever had seen in a training camp setting. And I also will point out that Rodgers wasn't dinking and dunking to pad any "imaginary" camp stats; he was working the ball down the field and in the middle of the field against a secondary that's going to show itself to be athletic and competitive this season. My opinion is that if the Steelers offense struggles early in the regular season it will be because of something other than the quarterback play.
WAYNE EPPEHIMER FROM JAMESTOWN, NY: I'm not an Ohio State fan, but have some friends who are and they claim that Will Howard is a great player. Now that he cannot play during the preseason due to injury, what will happen to him when the roster is trimmed down? Also, what happened to Minkah Fitzpatrick? Did I miss something there?
ANSWER: Minkah Fitzpatrick plus a seventh-round pick were traded to the Miami Dolphins for Jaylen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, and a seventh-round pick on June 30. And in my experience there is no such thing as a college football fan who would say anything but that the quarterback who took his favorite team to a National Championship is a great player. I do not know what's going to happen with Will Howard when the rosters are reduced to 53 players on Tuesday, Aug. 26. But I would be shocked if he is waived.
LARRY LASH FROM CREIGHTON, PA: I don't fully know the extent of Will Howard's injury, but my question is could they place him on IR and have Skylar Thompson as the No. 3 quarterback on the 53-man roster? I just thought Skylar played well enough in the game against the Jaguars to be a No. 3, and if Will Howard has played as well as I've been hearing during camp thus far, it would benefit them to keep him around, would it not?
ANSWER: There is another preseason game tonight against the Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium, and so let's wait and see how the quarterback play turns out this time. If Will Howard goes on the injured reserve list before rosters are cut to 53, then he is out for the season and would lose a year of development because he wouldn't be allowed to practice. That's the rule. As I mentioned in the previous answer, cut-down day is on Tuesday, Aug. 26 and a lot can happen between now and then.
HARRY WEIRICH FROM CLEVELAND, OH: Here's an easy one. From what you have seen thus far, is the receiving group good enough to contend?
ANSWER: On the list of things the Steelers need to happen in order for them to contend for a championship this season, I don't believe the quality of the receiver play is as high on that list as a lot of people think.
LEON KULINSKI FROM OIL CITY, PA: I haven't heard anything about Andrus Peat since the Steelers signed him. I would appreciate an update on him if you can provide one.
ANSWER: My opinion is that the Steelers are looking to assemble some offensive line depth for the start of the regular season. The starting 5 in that group is set, but depth is always necessary. Andrus Peat is 6-foot-7, 316 pounds and has 103 regular seasons starts during a 10-season career that began with him as a No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and the Steelers are giving him a look to see if he might be able to provide the team with some versatility as a backup. I would think he'll play a lot tonight against Tampa Bay.
JERMAINE HALL FROM GROVETOWN, GA: How do you feel Yahya Black is progressing at this point?
ANSWER: With training camp and 1 preseason game under his belt, I believe Yayha Black is on the path to showing enough to be a part of the regular season gameday rotation along the defensive line.
JEFF BARGER FROM MIDLAND, TX: As it relates to the value of running backs and their perceived "short shelf life," why can't they make the rookie contracts for them shorter? Say like a 2-year rookie contract for running backs only. That way if they prove themselves, they can get paid like everyone else. It will also give some of the exceptional ones a chance at a third contract. I just think it's a shame that running backs who are asked to do so much get paid so much less compared to others. What are your thoughts?
ANSWER: You're asking me why those who run NFL teams don't share your opinion on the value of running backs, and you want to change a rule that would have to be negotiated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement in an effort to force your opinion on the teams in the league. What you're suggesting isn't going to happen.
TIMOTHY HAMLIN FROM MONROE, NC: Are the Steelers still making season highlight films like they did for 40-plus years? Since they stopped making DVDs, I haven't seen any of these on an official channel.
ANSWER: Team highlight videos once were shown on NFL Network and sometimes ESPN, often in late-night blocks. If that still is the case, or why it isn't if it isn't, I have no idea. What I do know is that those videos still are made every year.
CRAIG DUMNICH FROM AVONDALE, PA: What's more important for the offense, great play-calling from the offensive coordinator or great talent?
ANSWER: You cannot actually believe that a play-call in and of itself is more integral to the offense than great talent executing even some random play that's drawn out of a hat.
ROBERT RICHARDSON FROM MODESTO, CA: What are the perks for players other than their salary? Do they get free gameday meals? And any other special perks?
ANSWER: Are you talking about health care, 401k plans, a pension if they have enough service to qualify. Or something like free parking at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex?
JOHN CURLEY FROM CHAPTICO, MD: While not a Steelers specific question, this is more about NFL policy. No one wants to see anyone get hurt but after the injury to Morice Norris the game was suspended indefinitely. With injuries such as the ones to Ryan Shazier, Joe Theisman, and Tim Krumrie come to mind, what constitutes for the game to be suspended due to injury? And how would ending the game early affect the standings for later in the season when teams are competing for the playoffs?
ANSWER: I do not believe the NFL would suspend a regular season game or a playoff game due to injury. The fact the game in which Morice Norris was injured was a preseason game had everything to do with the fact that it was suspended.
