As of November 23, 2025, the question of whether Aaron Rodgers is playing looms large for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The veteran quarterback suffered a fracture in his left wrist—his non-throwing hand—and is officially listed as questionable for the Week 12 matchup against the Chicago Bears. The club medical staff, in tandem with coaching leadership, will decide his fate as the game draws near.
Wrist injury: what we know so far
During the Steelers’ Week 11 win, Rodgers left the field after sustaining an awkward hit that landed on his left wrist. He completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown before exiting. Following the incident, he underwent imaging which revealed a small fracture in that wrist.
Head coach Mike Tomlin noted the injury did not require surgery, and emphasized that the key factors in the decision to play will be: can he protect himself, can he grip the ball, and will his mobility be sufficient.
Rodgers did not participate in Wednesday’s practice and was limited on Thursday and Friday. He practiced with a protective brace on the injured wrist, but the coaching staff described Friday’s session as “still evolving” in terms of his readiness.
Definition of “questionable” — and its implications
In NFL parlance, being labelled questionable means a player could play but his participation is far from guaranteed. For Rodgers, this tag carries weight because:
- The wrist injury is to his non-throwing hand, which in theory may limit its functional impact—but in reality, grip strength, protection on contact, and hand-off mechanics all rely on both hands being viable.
- The medical team is focused less on pain tolerance and more on long-term durability. Rodgers himself stated that “safety over pain” is his priority this week.
- The final decision may come as late as pre-game warmups and is dependent on how the wrist responds to live reps with contact and protective gear.
What his presence means for the offense
If Rodgers takes the field, Pittsburgh’s offense stands to benefit in several ways:
- With a 6-4 record, the Steelers are still squarely in the AFC North race; having their veteran signal-caller gives them a leadership advantage and keeps continuity in their scheme.
- Rodgers brings year-after-year experience surviving game-day conditions, which can stabilize the passing game under pressure.
- A cleared wrist would signal to the team and fans that he’s still a viable starter even past age 40, which may galvanize the locker room.
On the flip side, if he does not play:
- Backup Mason Rudolph steps in. In Week 11 he relieved Rodgers and completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. He showed competence, but a starter change always impacts game-planning and rhythm.
- Expect a more conservative game plan: increased reliance on the run game, shorter passes, more protective schemes to limit turnover risk and preserve game control.
- The Steelers’ division-lead margin might shrink if their offense cannot seamlessly adapt.
Decision timeline and monitoring factors
There are several key milestones this week that will determine whether Rodgers suits up:
- Ability to handle his wrist brace during full speed drills and contact reps in practice.
- Pre-game warm-up: his performance there will be a strong indicator of his in-game viability.
- The team’s official inactive list, which drops roughly an hour before kickoff, will provide the final official word.
- Coach and medical staff remarks during pre-game press conferences often foreshadow whether the player will play—or if they’re being overly optimistic in public.
Given all this, a decision by Friday night or early Saturday is likely, but they may hold off until Sunday morning depending on how things unfold.
Career context, matchup importance and storylines
Rodgers has faced the Bears many times during his long tenure with the Green Bay Packers, posting a dominant record in those games. His appearance in Chicago would carry extra narrative weight given that history.
At age 41, every game carries more significance for his career arc. While the wrist injury may seem minor on paper (non-throwing hand, no surgery), the decision to play or sit becomes as much about legacy and risk management as about one game.
For the Steelers, the stakes are high—not only in maintaining their AFC North lead, but also in signaling whether Rodgers remains the long-term starter or whether they begin shifting focus toward the future behind Rudolph or a rookie.
At-a-glance snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Injury | Fractured left (non-throwing) wrist |
| Status | Questionable for Week 12 |
| Practice participation | Did not practice Wednesday; limited Thursday/Friday |
| Backup QB | Mason Rudolph |
| Key determining factors | Ability to protect wrist, grip ball, warm-up performance |
| Game importance | Steelers vs. Bears in Chicago – major division battle |
Final assessment
While there is optimism that Rodgers might play, the reality is the decision is far from certain. The fact that he is listed as questionable signals the team is keeping him in the mix, but also that they’ll only proceed if he’s truly ready. If his wrist can stabilize under the brace, and he can perform without obvious limitation in warm-ups, expect he will take the field. If not, the Steelers will opt for a more cautious path and trust Rudolph for the moment.
For fans and fantasy players alike, this is one of those wait-and-see situations. Monitor Saturday’s updates and the official inactive list for the definitive answer.
What do you believe will happen—will he suit up this weekend or will the team opt for the safer route? Let us know your prediction below and stay tuned for further updates.