Aaron Rodgers wanted to play the Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears despite the minor fracture in his left wrist. But the Pittsburgh Steelers did not want to risk him and started Mason Rudolph. For the veteran quarterback, the loudest statement on the Steelers sideline was his silence.

“He (Rodgers) knows this isn’t my first time doing this, so he wasn’t blowing up, he wasn’t talking my ear off,” Rudolph admitted during the post-game conference.

While A-Rod gave “some extra setup”, the Black and the Gold still lost and slipped to second position in the AFC North. Rudolph also admitted that the veteran kept a positive demeanor and was “supportive of the offense.” Yet, everyone could sense that Rodgers wasn’t happy.

The 41-year-old signal caller ignored any medical reports and was fully ready to risk his injury. But the Steelers carefully assessed the medical situation and did not start him. Aaron Rodgers remained on the sidelines, watching Rudolph run the plays but advising him only when absolutely necessary. The benching put him in a tough spot.

Rodgers knows that this could be his last season in the league. The New York Jets released him last year despite repeated requests. The Steelers also signed him to a one-year $13.65 million contract, worth up to $19.5 million. They also have the rookie Will Howard from the sixth round (185th overall) of this year’s draft.

With all these situations surrounding the Steelers’ QB room, no one’s place is guaranteed. Rudolph has known them for 7 seasons now, since they drafted him in 2018, except last year, when he played for the Tennessee Titans. However, that silent pressure from the sideline may have weighed on Rudolph, whose long history with the team was tested by one critical mistake.

Mason Rudolph takes accountability for his costly mistake

With almost 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Steelers trailed by 3 points. Receiver DK Metcalf has returned to the game. So Rudolph tried a play action on the 2nd and 12 play, but the Bears’ defensive end Montez Sweat broke away from tight end Darnell Washington. As the signal caller ran towards the right, Sweat caught him by his arm and took him down to the ground. The sack, followed by a fumble, ended their critical drive.

“On the play action at the boundary on the sack fumble, they did a good job of peeling off the left tackle to go and rob that check down, which I was about to throw. I saw that and kind of recocked it, that’s when I got hit,” Rudolph said. “I just got to do a better job of protecting the ball.”

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The QB needs to do a better job, but the issue is more deep-rooted than he made it look. This was Rudolph’s first game as a starter this season. But their opponents always find a way to stop their plays. The Steelers have 304.3 yards per game after 12 weeks. Their rivals have managed almost 80 more yards in each game at 383.4 yards per game.

The Black and the Gold can pin the blame for the Week 12 loss on Aaron Rodgers’ medical situation. But the Steel City has lost 5 games now. They need to find a way to get back on the winning track, as each game will be crucial to their playoff dreams.