Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf Among Steelers Players Out vs. Jaguars for NFL Preseason

Pittsburgh Steelers fans waiting to see Aaron Rodgers in game action will have to wait a bit longer.

On Thursday, ESPN's Brooke Pryor relayed the list of non-injured Steelers who will not take the field for Saturday's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rodgers, DK Metcalf, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Jalen Ramsey are among the most notable names who will be absent:

That Rodgers, Metcalf and Ramsey will not play is notable, as they are three of the biggest offseason additions for the Steelers.

The hope in Pittsburgh is Rodgers will return to his previous Hall of Fame form he displayed for much of his career on the Green Bay Packers after his two seasons with the New York Jets did not go according to plan.

He was limited to just a handful of plays in 2023 because of an Achilles injury and then went 5-12 as a starter in 2024. He finished an ugly 28th in the league in QBR, per Pro Football Reference, and didn't look like the four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler from his time on the Packers.

Perhaps being a full season removed from the Achilles injury will help him more closely resemble the player who dominated for Green Bay.

Throwing to Metcalf won't hurt, as the star receiver was another marquee offseason addition for the Steelers. He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in three of the last five seasons and has never finished with fewer than 900 yards, which is a pattern that will likely continue given his status as the clear-cut No. 1 option.

Given the track record of both Metcalf and Rodgers, there is no need to risk injury by playing them in the first preseason game.

The same goes for Watt and Heyward, who are the two veterans who are once again expected to anchor the defensive line. If they continue to play at the high level they have demonstrated throughout their careers, the defense should keep the Steelers in every single game and give Rodgers the opportunity to win.

But that might not happen until the second preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 16.