Lead: The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing contingency plans after starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a fractured wrist. Coach Mike Tomlin said he has not ruled out Rodgers playing on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, but the team worked out emergency options on Tuesday. The workouts were for Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai; neither was signed, leaving the Steelers to weigh short-term cover against longer-term roster moves. If Rodgers is unavailable, the team would rely on Mason Rudolph and Will Howard while deciding whether to add depth.
Key Takeaways
- Aaron Rodgers has a fractured wrist; Coach Mike Tomlin said he “hasn’t closed the door” on Rodgers playing Sunday at Chicago, per team comments.
- On Tuesday the Steelers worked out quarterbacks Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai; neither player was signed after the sessions.
- Bean and Mordecai would reportedly serve as emergency third-string options behind Mason Rudolph and Will Howard if added to the roster.
- The Steelers currently have no quarterbacks on the practice squad, giving the active roster immediate importance for depth.
- If Rodgers cannot play with a fractured wrist, he could, in theory, be placed on injured reserve, which would create a longer-term need beyond the current backups.
- Jason Bean went undrafted in 2024 out of Kansas and spent time with the Indianapolis Colts last year; Tanner Mordecai, undrafted in 2024 out of Wisconsin, has spent time with the San Francisco 49ers.
Background
The NFL requires teams to maintain quarterback depth through active-roster backups and practice-squad options; injuries to starters trigger rapid roster assessments. Pittsburgh entered the week with Aaron Rodgers as the starter and Mason Rudolph and Will Howard listed as the primary backups on the active roster. With no quarterbacks on the practice squad, the Steelers face a narrower margin for handling a starter-level injury between now and the Sunday game in Chicago.
Teams frequently hold private workouts or bring in free agents for a look when a starter is injured; these sessions allow coaches to assess a player’s readiness to sign quickly. Undrafted free agents and recent cut players are common candidates because they are immediately available and may already be familiar with pro systems. The presence of two recent undrafted 2024 quarterbacks on the market made Bean and Mordecai logical short-term options for Pittsburgh’s evaluation.
Main Event
On Tuesday the Steelers hosted private workouts for Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai, bringing both players into the facility for a hands-on evaluation. Neither quarterback was offered a contract immediately following the sessions, according to team communications; the workouts appear to have been precautionary measures while the coaching staff continues to evaluate Rodgers’ status. The team explicitly left open the possibility Rodgers could play Sunday, so no roster move was required immediately.
Jason Bean, an undrafted 2024 prospect out of Kansas, spent time with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2023 season. Tanner Mordecai, who finished his college career at Wisconsin and also went undrafted in 2024, had a prior look with the San Francisco 49ers. Both bring recent college film and brief NFL camp experience but had not been added to Pittsburgh’s active roster or practice squad after the workouts.
If Rodgers is ruled out ahead of the Bears game, the Steelers would likely elevate Mason Rudolph to the starting role with Will Howard as the primary backup on game day. The decision to sign a third quarterback from the free-agent pool or move a veteran onto the roster hinges on the expected recovery timeline for Rodgers and the team’s appetite to burn a roster spot for a short-term stopgap.
Analysis & Implications
Short-term, the Steelers must balance the urgency of covering the quarterback position for Sunday’s game with the strategic question of preserving roster flexibility. Signing a free agent for one game can use a roster spot that might be needed for other areas; keeping Rudolph and Howard in their current roles preserves continuity if Rodgers is expected to recover quickly. Conversely, if medical staff recommend sitting Rodgers, the team would need to secure additional depth either via free-agent signings or a practice-squad addition.
Placing a starting quarterback on injured reserve typically means a minimum absence defined by league rules; that would push the Steelers toward a longer-term solution beyond temporary workouts. An IR move would open a 53-man roster spot but could also signal the team must pursue a more established free-agent quarterback or promote from the practice squad if one is populated. The availability of serviceable veterans on short notice is variable late in the week, which increases the value of immediate, in-person workouts.
From a competitive standpoint, losing Rodgers for any stretch would alter Pittsburgh’s offensive planning, play-calling, and personnel usage. Backup starters often shift game scripts toward conservative play to minimize turnover risk, which can change expected point output and third-down strategies. The Bears matchup this Sunday therefore carries tactical implications tied directly to the outcome of the medical and roster decisions made between now and game time.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Status | College | 2024 Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | Starter, fractured wrist (pending) | California | Veteran |
| Mason Rudolph | Active backup | Oklahoma State | Veteran |
| Will Howard | Active backup | Kansas State | Drafted/Undrafted status: rostered |
| Jason Bean | Workouted Tuesday, not signed | Kansas | Undrafted 2024 |
| Tanner Mordecai | Workouted Tuesday, not signed | Wisconsin | Undrafted 2024 |
The table summarizes immediate depth and origins. The critical operational fact is the absence of practice-squad quarterbacks for Pittsburgh at the moment, meaning the team must either add a player to the roster or rely on the current active backups if Rodgers cannot play.
Reactions & Quotes
“We haven’t closed the door on him playing Sunday,”
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers (head coach)
Tomlin’s comment frames the team’s approach as cautious but optimistic; it signals that a final determination depends on medical evaluation and the coach’s judgment about on-field safety and effectiveness.
“They brought in Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai for workouts on Tuesday,”
NBC Sports (media report)
The media report confirms the team’s proactive steps to examine immediate free-agent options without committing to a signing while Rodgers’ status remains in flux.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Aaron Rodgers will be cleared to play on Sunday is unresolved and depends on medical updates and a final decision by the coaching staff.
- Whether the Steelers will sign Bean or Mordecai later in the week remains undetermined; no contract was announced after Tuesday’s workouts.
- Any plan to place Rodgers on injured reserve is theoretical at this stage and has not been formally announced by the team.
Bottom Line
The Steelers took prudent steps Tuesday by working out two recent undrafted quarterbacks as precautionary measures after Aaron Rodgers suffered a fractured wrist. With Coach Mike Tomlin keeping the door open for Rodgers to play Sunday, Pittsburgh has not yet made a roster commitment, but the lack of practice-squad quarterbacks increases pressure to decide quickly if Rodgers cannot go.
How the team responds will affect immediate game planning and potentially the roster picture for weeks ahead if Rodgers is placed on injured reserve. Fans and analysts should watch the team’s official injury report and any roster transactions announced before the league’s game-day cutoffs for definitive confirmation.
Sources
- NBC Sports (media report)