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Former offensive lineman and current NFL analyst Ross Tucker has suggested that Aaron Rodgers’s failure to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers so close to the start of organized team activities on May 27 shows he doesn’t want to play for the organization.
During a Thursday appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Tucker once again ripped Rodgers’ handling of the Steelers-related offseason saga.
“He doesn’t want to go to Pittsburgh in May,” Tucker said about Rodgers, as shared by Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot. “He does not want to do OTAs. He does not want to do minicamp. He’s gonna wait as long as he can so he doesn’t get criticism for that. I got news for you, Aaron. I’m gonna criticize you anyway.”
Tucker is hardly the first to say that Rodgers doesn’t want to participate in springtime workouts this month. Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger thinks Rodgers should want to get on the field with to-be teammates while learning the system run by head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as soon as possible. Still, Pittsburgh reportedly is in no “rush” to get the future Hall of Famer into the team’s facility before the club begins its summer break.
The Steelers’ mandatory minicamp is scheduled from June 10-12.
A May 14 story noted that the Steelers are not “concerned” that longtime backup Mason Rudolph is their QB1 on the depth chart, largely because they “remain optimistic that Rodgers will sign and be their starter.” Nevertheless, Tucker seems to believe Rodgers is not all-in on helping Pittsburgh pursue more than just a playoff berth from September through January 2026.
“If you know you’re gonna go to the Steelers,” Tucker added about Rodgers, “and you’re with a new team, a new offense with Arthur Smith, all those other guys are out there with Phase 2 of the offseason program right now. Don’t tell me you’re committed. Don’t tell me you want to win games this year. Don’t tell me it’s a priority if you’re not there working with your new teammates in your new offense.”
Rodgers could silence these takes by putting pen to paper on a deal with the Steelers at some point before the end of the month. However, there is currently no indication he would be part of Pittsburgh’s OTAs.
