Man, talk about a shaky start! The Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting at a wobbly 1-1 in the 2026 season, after getting absolutely tripped up by the New England Patriots in Week 2. You know it, I know it, everyone who watched knows it: Aaron Rodgers and that offense looked rough out there *again*. This time, there was no terrible opposing offense to swoop in and bail them out, which let’s be real, is a huge bummer. Rodgers struggled hard in Week 2, and if you’re like me, your buddy’s probably already texting you, “Dude, are they seriously gonna bench him this season?!” It’s a fair question when things feel this clunky early on. But here’s the kicker: an aggressive move like that? It’s not likely to come crashing down anytime soon.
The “No Way, Jose” Bench Rule for Rodgers
So, what’s the actual deal? When could Rodgers *possibly* get benched, if there’s even a real scenario for the Steelers to do it? ESPN’s Dan Graziano just dropped the real truth bomb on what it would truly take for Pittsburgh to sideline Rodgers in what we all know is his final NFL season. And honestly, it’s probably not what you’re imagining during a frustrating Sunday. Graziano laid it out plain: he simply does not believe that head coach McCarthy would ever bench Rodgers for guys like Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, or Drew Allar. At least, not as long as the Steelers have even the slimmest, most distant shot at making the postseason. Read that again. It’s wild! As long as the Steelers have even a whisper of a chance to make the postseason, Rodgers is staying under center.
Why You Won’t See A QB Change Any Time Soon
This should not be a surprise, right? This is Aaron Rodgers’ last season in the NFL before he retires. I mean, seriously, it would be absolutely shocking if Rodgers got benched smack dab in the middle of the season, regardless of a few tough games. His history, his MVP seasons, everything he’s brought to the league , that gives him a whole lot of leash when it comes to being the Steelers’ starting quarterback. While we might all be pulling our hair out wondering how good he’ll be on a week-to-week basis, you gotta expect the Steelers to stick by Rodgers until their playoff hopes are officially snuffed out. Yeah, seeing young guys like Howard or Allar step into a starting role for real-deal regular-season games would be super interesting, maybe even a little exciting for the future! But that kind of move is totally reserved for the end of the season, when the chips are truly down. If the Steelers are actually eliminated from playoff contention, *then* Rodgers could possibly get benched to give a younger quarterback a shot. But trust me, that scenario is way, way down the road, much later this year. So, for now, Steelers fans, get ready to see Rodgers under center for the foreseeable future, even if those struggles from the first two weeks of 2026 keep popping up. It’s gonna be a ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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