The Green Bay Packers‘ preseason-opening showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers may include an unexpected number of snaps against former Packers quarterback and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.
While Rodgers hasn’t played more than a handful of snaps in the preseason over the last 10 years, new Steelers (and former Packers) coach Mike McCarthy wants Rodgers on the field playing snaps during the exhibition schedule this summer. And the 42-year-old quarterback is open to the idea.
“He (wants me out there for) 30 or 40 plays,” Rodgers told Mike Silver of The Athletic. “I said, ‘Mike, if you want me to play, I’ll play.’ I’m not saying I want to do it. But if he wants me to, I will.”
The Steelers open the preseason against the Packers on Thursday, Aug. 13 and the New York Jets on Friday, Aug. 21, so Rodgers will likely play snaps against both of his former teams.
The last time Rodgers played more than 10 snaps in the preseason was 2017, and he hasn’t played at least 30 preseason snaps since 2014. While getting in some snaps could be helpful for a quarterback reconnecting with an old offense, there is a risk of injury for an old quarterback entering a final season.
The Packers will be debuting a new defense under Jonathan Gannon during next Thursday’s preseason opener.
Rodgers, who spent a team-record 18 seasons with the Packers, was traded to the New York Jets before the 2023 season. He was with the Jets for two seasons (2023-24) and is now entering his second season with the Steelers. Rodgers has said on multiple occasions that the 2026 season will be his final season in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers may get snaps against QB Aaron Rodgers during preseason opener
