Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is set to start against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday despite suffering multiple fractures in his left wrist. The injury, which occurred during Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals, sidelined him for last week's loss to the Chicago Bears. Rodgers has been adamant about playing through the pain, impressing his teammates with his resolve.
Aaron Rodgers sustained at least three fractures in his left wrist during the first half of the Steelers' Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The injury, described by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport as including one more consequential break requiring significant force, did not necessitate surgery. Instead, Rodgers will wear a brace for protection, as the affected wrist is his non-throwing hand.
The Steelers kept details limited initially, but concerns over re-injury risk led to Rodgers missing Week 12 against the Chicago Bears. In that 31-28 loss, backup Mason Rudolph completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and lost a fumble. Rodgers pushed to return but was held inactive, not even serving as the emergency third quarterback.
Rodgers practiced fully on Thursday and Friday, earning clearance from head coach Mike Tomlin. "He pressed big time in an effort to get back to us last week," Tomlin said on his show. Teammates have been impressed by Rodgers' determination, echoing his history of playing through injuries, such as a 2018 tibial fracture and a 2022 thumb avulsion.
Through 10 games this season, Rodgers has thrown for 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 97.7 passer rating—his highest since 2021. A win over the Bills could move the Steelers to 7-5, opening a divisional lead over the Baltimore Ravens and bolstering their wild-card position. The team, which started 4-1 but has lost four of its last six, faces high stakes in this matchup.