Steelers Quarterback Dodges Surgery After Wrist Injury
Aaron Rodgers will not require surgery despite suffering a fracture in his left wrist during the Pittsburgh Steelers' victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Mike Tomlin has officially confirmed. The 41-year-old NFL legend was forced to exit the game in the second quarter of the Steelers' 34-12 win.
Injury Details and Game Impact
The initial fears of a 'slight break' were confirmed by NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The injury occurred when Rodgers fell onto his hand after being tackled while throwing the ball on a second down. Broadcast footage showed the four-time MVP landing awkwardly on his non-throwing hand. He remained in the game for one more play before heading to the sideline, with ESPN reporting what appeared to be blood on his hand.
Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph entered the game to replace Rodgers and helped steer the Steelers to a victory that improves their season record to 6-4. Initially, the issue was reported as a hand injury before Tomlin clarified it was specifically a wrist problem.
Road to Recovery and Potential Return
Following further tests on Monday, Tomlin revealed that his starting quarterback will not go under the knife. Instead, the focus is on managing the injury for Rodgers's comfort and safety. Tomlin has left the door open for a potential return against the Chicago Bears this Sunday, stating, 'It's about bracing it and securing it for his comfort and safety and then it's about how functional he is.'
The Pittsburgh coach added that pain tolerance would not be an issue for the veteran quarterback, despite the fracture. Following the Sunday win, Tomlin shared his excitement about the victory with Rodgers, noting their post-game conversation focused on the importance of the win rather than the injury itself.
The 2010 Super Bowl winner has enjoyed a strong start to his tenure in Pittsburgh, leading the Steelers to the top of the AFC North. This comes after two difficult years with the New York Jets, which were marred by an Achilles tendon tear just four snaps into his debut season.
