Aaron Rodgers isn’t exactly a stranger to frustration when it comes to his receivers. Back in 2022, when he was still calling the shots in Green Bay, the patience he had for his young pass-catchers was already wearing thin. “The young guys, especially young receivers, we’ve got to be way more consistent,” Rodgers said bluntly. “A lot of drops, a lot of bad route decisions, running the wrong route. We’ve got to get better in that area.” That wasn’t some one-off complaint – it was the culmination of a simmering tension Rodgers had been carrying.

Because even earlier, in 2018, Aaron Rodgers made his feelings clear in a less-than-subtle way. After a rough scout-team practice session, he tossed a football at tackling dummies on the sideline, out of frustration with what he saw from the young players. “I’m getting older and grumpier,” Rodgers admitted. “I’m tired, too; we’re all a little tired. When you get a little tired, the fuse gets a little shorter.” Now, in 2025, with the Steelers, that fuse still isn’t exactly long.

On August 12, 2025, during a Pittsburgh practice, Aaron Rodgers dropped back, eyes locked on rookie Kaleb Johnson. He wanted Johnson to stay put on a route, left flat, ready for the catch. Instead, the ball sailed wide. Rodgers wasn’t having it. A few sharp words were exchanged on the sidelines – Rodgers snapping at Johnson like a veteran frustrated with a rookie not quite on the same page. This wasn’t a private gripe either; it was clear enough for onlookers to notice the tension.

Rodgers isn’t prone to losing his cool easily. He’s the guy who expects precision – every route crisp, every catch confident. But this moment laid bare a disconnect that’s been lurking under the surface in Steelers camp. Rodgers has had his struggles these first two weeks. The “seven-shot drill,” Mike Tomlin’s go-to test for offensive sharpness, has been brutal. Misfires to Darnell Washington, passes batted down by eager defenders, stalled drives – even with a weapon like DK Metcalf lined up outside, the offense has struggled to find rhythm.

Still, there was a flicker of life on Day 12. Aaron Rodgers opened the drill with a quick strike to Metcalf, followed by a textbook seam throw to Pat Freiermuth. Rookie lineman Troy Fautanu held his ground, giving Rodgers the pocket he needed, while Kenneth Gainwell’s swing route kept chains moving. The offense edged ahead, 4-3, with Rodgers leading the charge – shifting protections, owning the cadence, commanding the huddle. It was a glimpse of the old Rodgers – the guy who won MVPs and made magic happen under pressure.

But even then, the frustration was just below the surface. A ball skipped past Calvin Austin III. A rookie, Yahya Black, swatted a pass down at the line. Moments like these keep Rodgers on edge. He demands the same high standards of his teammates as he does of himself. Trust and timing are everything, and when a rookie runs the wrong route or fails to read the defense correctly, the patience wears thin. That snap at Johnson? Just another sign that Rodgers means business – he came to Pittsburgh to win, not babysit. But while Rodgers was airing his frustration, rookie running back Kaleb Johnson was dealing with his own challenges.

Reality check for Aaron Rodgers’ Steelers’ rookie

The Iowa product’s NFL debut was anything but flashy. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 9, Johnson logged eight carries for 20 yards and caught one pass for six yards. He also dropped an easy pass, an error that’s tough to swallow for a player expected to boost Pittsburgh’s rushing attack.

Johnson has been honest about his learning curve. “It was good to get my feet wet,” he said. His candid self-assessment includes an admission that the speed of the NFL game is a serious step up from college and that he still needs to sharpen his timing and instincts. “There’s a lot of things that I can work on,” Johnson noted. “Just going out there and playing faster. Before the first game comes up, I’ll be all ready to go.”

The Steelers’ coaching staff isn’t hitting the panic button either. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith pointed out that Johnson is the kind of player who can be too hard on himself. “Kaleb’s a great guy, and that’s why it’s important for those young guys to get out there,” Smith said. “I don’t care who you are, whether it’s nerves or excitement. It was a big week for him and for all those rookies.”

Head coach Mike Tomlin echoed that sentiment while delivering his own form of reality check. “For me and him, specifically, I’m talking a lot about not evaluating the performance while you’re living it,” Tomlin said. “We play on Saturday, then we evaluate on Sunday and Monday. So, it was a good conversation. He’s a conscientious young man. He wants to be great. He’s working his tail off, and I’d imagine he’s going to be one of those ones that takes a significant step between game one and game two.” That’s a tough balance in Pittsburgh’s camp right now. 

Aaron Rodgers’ snap and Mike Tomlin’s reality check are two sides of the same coin: development demands patience but also accountability. Communication must be sharp, and rookies like Johnson have to pick up the pace fast. For Rodgers, snapping at a rookie receiver isn’t about disrespect; it’s about ensuring the team moves forward with no excuses. And for Tomlin, the reality check is about pushing a young player to live up to his potential, even when the results aren’t perfect.