The Pittsburgh Steelers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday night in their third and most important preseason game. As head coach Mike Tomlin has reiterated, players such as veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers will definitely not be seen in the 2023 preseason opener. The coaching staff decided this after their first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mason Rudolph got the start, but only played two series before Skylar Thompson stepped in.
Against the Jaguars, Rudolph had his few moments to shine. For now, Tomlin is sticking his neck out as his team prepares to come off the bye and take on the Ravens next Sunday. Tomlin has said he plans to handle this preseason game just like the first one. He pointed out, as an example, that most of the same participants who did not play in the last one will be absent this time.
“I’m going to play this preseason game very much like we did the first one,” – Mike Tomlin
Most significantly, rookie linebacker Nick Herbig, who did not play against the Jaguars, might get his first defensive snaps on Saturday night. So Tomlin chose to sit a number of starters. This is indicative of his overall long-term plan to get the team adjusted as they move towards the regular season.
Even Stephen A. Smith, a well-known sports commentator and Pittsburgh native, has expressed his excitement about the Steelers’ offense this season. He’s convinced that we’re on the precipice of historic levels of success for the Steelers offense and maybe even for Aaron Rodgers. Smith’s comments arrive there are an incredibly optimistic Pittsburgh Steelers offense that is expecting to undergo a renaissance.
After competing in their joint practice with the Buccaneers ahead of Saturday’s matchup, Rodgers cited the intensity of the practice as a motivating factor. He noted that the defenses were a lot more advanced than their typical Preseason Game Week 1 opponents. Rodgers definitely wants to play, but his participation in the preseason games will be limited. During this stretch, Tomlin has hinted at his intention to vacate for the full length of this mini series.
“In terms of participation, the same collection of guys that were held out the last time will comprise the guys that are held out this time,” – Mike Tomlin
Rodgers, 41, will miss what would’ve been his first debut as a Pittsburgh Steeler coming during the preseason. Tomlin recognized Rodgers’ wealth of experience and suggested a customized plan to get him ready for the game as well as what’s to come this season.
“Hey, this guy has been doing this for 21 years. His cumulative snap total and what’s required for him to be ready is different than others,” – Mike Tomlin
As the Steelers prepare for their Super Bowl against the Buccaneers, Tomlin is Intense Tomlin. First and foremost, he’s focused on getting his players ready to make a successful transition to the regular season. As he said, “I’ll worry about next week, next week,” emphasizing that his focus is still very much on the now.
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