Bad news for Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Cam Heyward will be among the many veterans who will miss out on the team's second preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers (8) looks to pass as Will Howard (18) waits his turn (AP)
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This comes after Rodgers, who suffered an injury scare during practice. However, the four-time MVP should be ready for the regular season. During Wednesday's session, the 41-year-old needed his calf wrapped after he was stepped on.
Rookie Derrick Harmon bull-rushed an offensive lineman into Pittsburgh's new quarterback, and Rodgers' lower leg was accidentally stepped on in the process.
But, coach Mike Tomlin was unconcerned. According to reports, Rodgers had scratches on his right shin, and athletic trainers applied a bag of ice. The trainers wrapped his calf, and he returned to the drill without missing a rep.
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"He just got stepped on," Tomlin said afterward. "It was nothing of any significance. He finished his work."
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"He just got stepped on," Tomlin said afterward. "It was nothing of any significance. He finished his work."
Aaron Rodgers, who tore his left Achilles tendon just four snaps into his debut season with the New York Jets in 2023, is now dealing with a different kind of adjustment, swapping out his helmet.
The quarterback addressed reporters before practice, explaining that his old model, the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, is no longer approved under the NFL’s updated safety standards. That’s forced him into the Schutt Air XP Pro VTD II, a change he’s not thrilled about.
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"I don't like it, no," Rodgers said Tuesday. "I'm trying to change. We're in the process still. It looks like a damn spaceship out there.
"We got to change it. The face mask doesn't fit the helmet because that's an old face mask, obviously just like I'm old, but we're trying to find the right helmet right now."
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.
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Home/Sports/Us Sports/Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf will not play Steelers vs Tampa Bay; Mike Tomlin reveals why
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