The Steelers open the season on Sunday against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
It will be a game of unique storylines, including a matchup of two quarterbacks who switched teams in the offseason, with Aaron Rodgers going from the Jets to the Steelers, and Justin Fields from the Steelers to the Jets.
It will also be Jets' Coach Aaron Glenn's first game as an NFL head coach, and he knows the challenge his team is facing.
"Really good opponent for us to start our season off against," said Glenn. "Really good players. Coach (Mike) Tomlin did a really good job of bringing in good, quality veterans on this team.
"Really good coach who has done a lot of winning in this league. So, this will be a good challenge for us, and our guys are looking forward to the challenge, as well as our coaches are, too."
The Jets weighed in on a variety of topics, including Rodgers, linebacker T.J. Watt, receiver DK Metcalf and much more.
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Coach Aaron Glenn on the type of challenge Aaron Rodgers presents:
"That's really nothing to talk about because of who he is. He challenges in all ways, as far as him as a thrower, getting guys in and out of the huddle, being able to see the defense, being able to put the guys in the right position. Listen, he's a future Hall of Famer. We all know that. So, he's going to cause problems no matter what."
Glenn on how you evaluate a player like Rodgers who's in his 21st season, and what do you look at when you're putting together a game plan:
"I've had the opportunity to go against that player a number of times, and listen, he's always been someone that really understands what the coordinator is thinking. You can tell he does a lot of film study.
"Mentally, that never goes away. Physically, we all start to wane at some point as we get older, but I know at that position, when mentally you are on point, man, he makes it a challenge. On tape, you will continue to see that.
"When he was here, you saw that. The thing that we have to do a really good job of is making sure we give different looks and make sure we try to make it as hard as we can on him because he's seen it all."
Cornerback Sauce Gardner on going against Rodgers:
"I am just focused on us. Just buying into everything. The game plan this week. Nothing changes. Just being the best teammate I can be. The best leader I can be.
"I am just preparing like any other game. A lot has changed since he was last here. I am not just going to go based off what I know."
Linebacker Jamien Sherwood on if there is any advantage going against Rodgers who was his teammate a year ago:
"Everybody does what they need to do to get better each year. I am not going to say there is any advantage. There is stuff we are working on to get better. There is stuff we got better at last from last year. It will be cool to play against him. Obviously, he's played here. We built a friendship. But at the end of the day, we're going out there with one goal in mind, and that's to play football."
Gardner on the experience of playing with Rodgers:
"It was a great experience. Just being able to pick his brain and stuff like that. He spent a lot of time in the league, experienced a lot of things. It was a great time."
Quarterback Justin Fields on the emotions going against his former team:
"Cool, calm, and collected. It's another game, to be honest with you. We're out here just trying to get better each and every day and prepare for this upcoming Sunday."
Fields on how his familiarity with the Steelers scheme and personnel can help him on Sunday:
"I was there last year going against their scout team, but it's Week One. They've got a lot of new players on the defensive side of the ball, so they could do a lot of different things, and that's how it is for everyone around the league in Week One, to where you can game plan as much as you think you can, but they can come out in whatever. So, the biggest thing is just adjusting on the fly on Sunday when we do see stuff that we necessarily didn't see coming."
Glenn on what kind of challenges T.J. Watt presents and the challenge Armand Membou has going against him:
"Another guy that's at the top of his game. He's one of the elite pass rushers in this league, and I don't want to just sit there and talk about his pass rush because you watch him against the run, he does some pretty outstanding things, too.
"Membou knows he has a tough job ahead of him, and we all know that. So, we have to do everything we can to help him, and this week's practice is going to be vital for him to make sure that he's on point.
"So, that's no secret. He's going to go against Watt, so he's going to go out there and do the best he can."
Fields on the storyline of him and Rodgers switching teams:
"The storyline is crazy. I mean that's why the NFL set us up for Week One, just for that. But it's cool. Cool to kind of see that, and it's going to be fun going up against these guys on Sunday.
"It's no storyline for me. It's ball for me. So, I'll let you guys kind of handle the storylines, the news lines, and stuff like that. In the locker room, we just keep it straight ball."
Gardner on facing receiver DK Metcalf:
"It's always a good matchup when me and him go against each other. I'm looking forward to it. I know he is as well. We played each other a couple of times."
