Aaron Rodgers 'Fully On Board' With Playing in Steelers vs. Jaguars Preseason Opener

It's not often that starting quarterbacks appear in preseason games, much less 41-year-old NFL veterans, but Aaron Rodgers plans to be ready if his number is called this week.

Rodgers said he's "fully on board" with playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday if head coach Mike Tomlin has it in his plans.

"It's an interesting conversation," Rodgers told reporters. "I think Mike and I have that at some point. I don't think it's in the plan for me to play this week, but whatever Mike wants to do, I'm fully on board."

Rodgers played in an exhibition game with the New York Jets in 2023 ahead of his first season with the team, but had not played in a preseason game since 2018 before then.

Rodgers, who signed a one-year, $13.7 million deal with the Steelers in June, could use the preseason game to continue familiarizing himself with the offense and his receivers.

But if Rodgers does play in Pittsburgh's preseason game on Saturday, it could be because the team has no other choice.

Heading into Saturday's matchup, the Steelers are thin at the quarterback position. Rookie quarterback Will Howard suffered a hand injury on Tuesday, leaving Pittsburgh with just Rodgers, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson available under center against the Jaguars.

Rodgers was disappointed by Howard's injury, but is looking forward to seeing him bounce back soon.

"It [stinks] for him for sure ... because he's had such a nice camp as a young player and then watching him in minicamp and just seeing his, you know, command of the offense," Rodgers said. "But this year is a growth year for him. It's a year to watch and learn and obviously better himself. This [should] just be a minor setback for him."

Rudolph and Thompson would seemingly be enough to get through Saturday's game, but Rodgers might have to be ready in case of an injury.