Aaron Rodgers doesn't need surgery on a fractured bone in his left wrist, but Mike Tomlin won't make a decision on whether to play Rodgers on Sunday at Chicago until he sees "functionality" in Rodgers' ability to play quarterback at – Tomlin believes – Friday's practice.
"That's just what I have in my mind," said Tomlin. "I know he's not working (Wednesday), but certainly I assume it's going to be a little later in the week, and in the meanwhile it'll give us an opportunity to really get solid with a plan or physical preparation around the other two."
Rodgers injured his left wrist during the first half of last Sunday's 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Mason Rudolph took over in the second half with the Steelers ahead by 10-6. Rudolph quarterbacked field goal and touchdown drives in the Steelers' only two possessions of the half (aside from the end-of-game kneeldown).
Rudolph completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Gainwell for a passer rating of 118.5.
Rodgers, with a first-half passer rating of 106.5, wanted to return for the second half, but Tomlin needed a guarantee Rodgers would be safe. Rodgers and the training staff are currently working to stabilize the injured hand.
"Really, it's just about bracing it and securing it for his comfort and safety, and then it's about how functional he is," Tomlin said. "We don't have the answers to that as we stand here today, but certainly I would imagine we're going to get some clarity as we push through the week.
"I think his experience really kind of aids in that. He's the type of guy and has the type of profile that doesn't require a lot of physical work in an effort to be ready to play, and that's helpful. In the meanwhile, certainly it'll provide opportunities for Mason and Will (Howard) to get quality work as we start the week. That's the posture that we're in. A little later in the week, we'll take a look at Aaron. And, again, as I mentioned, the variables are stabilizing it and making sure that he's safe and he can protect himself, brace himself as he falls, etc., pain tolerance – but that doesn't seem to be an issue with Aaron. He wanted to go back in the game on Sunday.
"And then, lastly, obviously, how effective he can be. Friday is probably a big day in terms of some of those things. I know he's working his tail off to be a component of this this week. He and I talked yesterday. He expressed that directly. I'm of the mindset of supporting that, while at the same time I've got a healthy collective of guys as a team and as a unit to ready in the meanwhile.
"That would be our mindset. We have a great week's work tomorrow centered around Mason Rudolph and what he does, and we'll see where the week leads us, and we'll take it day by day."
Tomlin was asked if he needs to "balance" a game-plan differently in such a situation.
"There's not anything to balance," he said. "We've gone through 10 games catering it to Aaron and his talents, and gaining certain traction there about the schematics. And all the while, we've been gaining some perspective about what's best for Mason. As a matter of fact, each and every week he kind of goes through things within the plan that are really comfortable for him. And so it won't be our first week at it. Certainly it will be our first week operationally, but the process, you go through that just about every week as you prepare a starter and a potential backup in terms of how to best highlight their talents so that the unit can move regardless of who's playing, particularly when they have different skill sets."
As a member of the Green Bay Packers for18 seasons, Rodgers experienced much success against the then-division rival Chicago Bears. He quarterbacked the Packers to a 25-5 record against them as a starter, with a 12-3 record at Chicago, including a playoff win during the 2010 season. Rodgers' career passer rating against the Bears is 109.0. His career passer rating overall is 102.5.
Does Tomlin sense that Rodgers wants to play this week more so because of the Bears?
"Aaron always wants to play. Opponent has nothing to do with it," Tomlin said. "It's his love affair with the game of football."
If Rudolph plays, Tomlin said, "We want to work within his comfort zone, the things that he sees and does well that might differ from Aaron. But again, it's all within the framework of what it is that we do."
With Rudolph as a starter, including playoff games, the Steelers are 8-5-1.
This is Rudolph's fifth season with the Steelers. He spent last season with the Tennessee Titans.
