Aaron Rodgers might have finally found his perfect match when it comes to headgear. After months of complaining about the NFL’s new helmet standards and trying out various models, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback seems to have landed on a new choice. The 41-year-old, who’s never been one to hold back his thoughts, spent the offseason grappling with both discomfort and regulations, even going so far as to call his replacement helmet a “damn spaceship.”

Rodgers had worn the Schutt Air XP Q11 for his entire career until the NFL ruled it outdated for safety reasons. Left with no choice, he reluctantly tried the Schutt Air XP Pro VTD II, a model the league labeled as “not recommended.” But that didn’t last long. “I hate it. Hate it, hate it,” Rodgers said in September. He complained about its design and how “terrible” it looked. His helmet frustration became an unexpected subplot of the Steelers’ early season.

Now, he’s giving it another go, and this time with the VICIS Zero2 QB Elite Helmet. It is one of the latest designs on the market. Photos from practice showed Rodgers wearing the updated model, hinting that he might have finally found something that balances comfort and safety. Still, considering his track record, it’s hard to believe this will be the last chapter in Aaron Rodgers’ helmet saga. Meanwhile, the former Packers star also had a serious injury concern. 

The veteran temporarily raised concern in practice when rookie Derrick Harmon accidentally stepped on his leg. Forcing trainers to wrap his calf. But head coach Mike Tomlin quickly dismissed injury concerns. “He just got stepped on,” Tomlin said. “It was nothing of any significance.”

Rodgers now turns his focus to the Steelers’ first divisional clash, a high-stakes matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Jeff Saturday, a former lineman, cautioned that Cleveland’s elite defense, spearheaded by Myles Garrett, might make life difficult for Rodgers and Pittsburgh’s offensive line. The Browns have the NFL’s second-best total defense, and their pressure-heavy scheme under Jim Schwartz will test every bit of Rodgers’ timing and protection.

With the Steelers and Browns splitting their previous six encounters, this rivalry appears more intense than ever. And for Aaron Rodgers, the real challenge begins, both in keeping his new helmet and staying upright against one of football’s fiercest defenses.

Rested and Ready: Steelers tighten their grip on a faltering AFC North

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t take a single snap last weekend, and somehow their hold on the AFC North only tightened. After an early bye following their historic win in Dublin over the Minnesota Vikings, Mike Tomlin’s squad returned home rested, healthier, and sitting alone atop a division suddenly looking shaky.

While Pittsburgh took the week off, the rest of the AFC North unraveled. The Bengals dropped their third straight game as Joe Burrow’s toe injury continues to sideline him. The Ravens spiraled into disarray after one of the most crushing losses in John Harbaugh’s tenure. The Browns? They’re limping into Acrisure Stadium on Sunday with one of the league’s weakest offenses and rookie Dillon Gabriel set for just his second start.

Tomlin isn’t ready to celebrate. “I don’t care what happened with other people,” he said. “It’s about us coming off the bye and getting ready for our game this week.”

Still, Pittsburgh’s outlook is promising. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and linebacker Alex Highsmith could return, giving the defense a near-clean bill of health for the first time since Week 1. Offensively, the only concern is wideout Calvin Austin III’s sore shoulder, though Tomlin has backup plans in Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson.

The schedule is about to get intense, with games against Cleveland and Cincinnati coming up in just five days. But the locker room is buzzing with confidence. “I watched every AFC North game,” Highsmith said. “It was nice to see those teams lose. We’ve got to take advantage of it.”

Tomlin, always conservative, isn’t thinking too far down the road. “At this stage of the game, man, it’s about getting better,” he said. Yet the Steelers possess the ultimate luxury of early September, momentum, health, and a division that’s suddenly theirs to lose.