Steelers Prepare for Bears with Rodgers‘ Status Uncertain, Warren Limitedโข in Practice
PITTSBURGH, PA – โขNovember โ27, 2023 – The Pittsburgh Steelers are navigating a crucial Week 12โ matchup against the Chicago Bears with uncertainty surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ injury and a limited practice โschedule for running back Jaylen Warren. Headโ Coach Mike Tomlin addressedโ the team’sโ preparation during a press conference Monday, โคemphasizing โa focus on both Rodgers’ potential returnโข and readiness for Mason Rudolph to โคlead the offense.
Rodgers sustained an injury, the specifics ofโ which were not detailed โฃin the report, and is working to be available this week. “He and I talkedโค (Monday).โ He expressed that directly,” tomlin stated. โค”I’m of the mindset of supporting that, while โฃat the same time โฃI got a healthy โcollective ofโค guys as a team and as a unit to โready.”
The Steelers will center their initial โpractice work around Rudolph. “We’ll have a great week’s work (wednesday) centered around Mason Rudolph and what he does. And we’ll โseeโ where the week leads us, and we’ll take it dayโข by day,” Tomlinโฃ explained.
Tomlin downplayed any significant shift in game-planning,noting the team has consistentlyโค incorporated โขRudolph’s strengths into preparations โคthroughout the season. “We’ve gone through 10 games catering it to Aaronโฃ and his talents and gaining certain traction there about โthe schematics. And all the while, we’ve been gaining someโข perspective about what’s best for Mason,” he saeid. “Each andโ every week he goes through things โwithin the plan that are really cozy for him.”
Beyond Rodgers, โฃthe Steelers are also monitoring Warren’s ankle injury sustained against the Cincinnati โBengals. Tomlin indicated โWarren’s participation in practice โขwill โคbe limited, but expressed optimism about his availability for Sunday’s game. “He was cleared to play [against the Bengals]. He was willing โto โplay,” โTomlin said, explaining the decision to continue utilizing Kenneth Gainwell.”We just thought kenny was doing aโค good job. Those are decisions that we make in-game sometimes. It’s not totally up โto the player’s will โor the expert medical โdevice. It’s about who givesโ us the best chanceโข to win.”
