Is Aaron Rodgers playing vs Packers? Steelers QB’s status for preseason opener

The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Green Bay Packers in their preseason opener Aug. 13 at Acrisure Stadium.

The game will mark Mike McCarthy’s debut as the coach of his hometown team. Key lineup decisions remain up in the air, though. At least externally.

All eyes will be on how the quarterback mix shakes out between Aaron Rodgers and his backups. The latter group includes veteran Mason Rudolph; second-year player Will Howard, who lost his preseason to injury in 2025; and rookie Drew Allar, on who GM Omar Khan used a third-round draft pick back in April.

<1 / 30

<2 / 30

<3 / 30

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers, poses with family and friends during the 2005 NFL Draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on April 23, 2005.

<4 / 30

<5 / 30

<6 / 30

<7 / 30

<8 / 30

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell presents the Super Bowl MVP trophy to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at a news conference on Feb. 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. The Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl 45.

<9 / 30

Aaron Rodgers celebrates the Super Bowl 45 title with Green Bay Packer fans during a Return to Titletown Celebration on Feb. 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field.

<10 / 30

<11 / 30

<12 / 30

<13 / 30

<14 / 30

<15 / 30

Aaron Rodgers is shown with back up quarterbacks Tim Boyle (left) and Jordan Love during the team’s training camp in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Aug. 24, 2020.

<16 / 30

<17 / 30

<18 / 30

<19 / 30

<20 / 30

<21 / 30

<22 / 30

<23 / 30

<24 / 30

<25 / 30

<26 / 30

<27 / 30

<28 / 30

<29 / 30

<30 / 30

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles as he is hit by the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. The Texans’ Sheldon Rankins (90) returned the fumble for a touchdown as Houston went on to a 30-6 wild-card playoff win at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026.

McCarthy said Tuesday that Rodgers “prefers to play,” but later in the day, Rodgers told reporters that the preseason is not “real football,” casting doubt on the notion that he has anything to gain by appearing.

“It’s preseason, it’s not real football,” Rodgers said. “If I do, great. If not, great.”

Rodgers did not play in any preseason games last year as he adjusted to a new system under then-coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. He’d figure to need even less work as he transitions back to working with his former coach from his Green Bay days.
QB depth chart

Rodgers topped the team’s initial training camp depth chart last week. He was followed by Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar, in that order.

All three of the backups are expected to see at least some reps. Howard and Allar appear set to make debuts long awaited by fans curious to see if there’s a future franchise QB already on the roster.

• Aug. 13 vs. Green Bay Packers, Acrisure Stadium, 7 p.m. ET

• Aug. 21 vs. New York Jets, Acrisure Stadium, 7 p.m. ET

• Aug. 27 at Buffalo Bills, Highmark Stadium, 7 p.m. ET

Aug. 13 vs. Green Bay Packers, Acrisure Stadium, 7 p.m. ET

Aug. 21 vs. New York Jets, Acrisure Stadium, 7 p.m. ET

Aug. 27 at Buffalo Bills, Highmark Stadium, 7 p.m. ET