Advertisement

Arthur Smith says the quiet part out loud about Aaron Rodgers' status vs. Bears

No surprise, here.
Ryan Heckman
Ryan Heckman

Still Curtain

Pittsburgh Steelers, Aaron Rodgers / Reuters via Imagn Images

Gearing up for Week 12, the Pittsburgh Steelers have quite the lone game status garnering everyone's attention. There are a few players who may end up missing the matchup with the Chicago Bears, but no other player's status leading up to this game is more important than quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

For obvious reasons.

Speaking with the media, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was asked about Rodgers' injury and game status with the idea that it'll be left up to the quarterback himself as to whether or not he's playing Sunday.

"I just trust him. This isn't his first rodeo... I know that he knows how to prepare and has been in different circumstances like this before," Smith said.

This past week, Rodgers of course left the Steelers' game against the Bengals with a broken bone in his non-throwing wrist. It's the fact that this isn't his right wrist -- that's what's saving him, here.

He's playing. We know he's playing.

Everybody knows it'll be Aaron Rodgers' call to play (or not) against the Bears

This should come as no surprise. Smith's idea of "trusting him" simply means this: it's on Rodgers to decide whether or not he is going to play.

Sure, we've heard the report that Rodgers needs to be cleared by doctors, etc., etc.

Do we really think anyone is stopping him from playing what will probably be his very last game against the Bears, and in Chicago, for that matter?

Fat chance.

This decision is going to be up to Rodgers and Rodgers alone. No one is going to tell him to sit down against the Bears. Barring a catastrophic injury that completely takes Rodgers off of his feet, he is playing in this game.

The best part of this, all, is that it sure seems like the majority of Bears fans want to see Rodgers play in this one. And, on one hand, why wouldn't they? Rodgers has done nothing but own Chicago over the better part of two decades.

On the other hand, because Rodgers has owned the Bears for so long, it is a little funny to see so many Bears fans wanting another swing at the guy who has single-handedly obliterated their hopes for so many years.

Ryan Heckman

Ryan Heckman

Ryan Heckman is a Lead NFL Editor for FanSided, covering all 32 teams across the league. Ryan has covered various leagues and teams dating back to 2012, with experience covering both the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated among other publications. He loves Jesus, family, and the NFL in that order. If he isn't writing, Ryan is spending time with his wife and kids, drinking coffee or lifting weights.