LATROBE, Pa. – Quarterback Aaron Rodgers began his first training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, throwing his first pass during team practice. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned.
Instead of connecting with one of his offensive players, linebacker Patrick Queen intercepted the pass, drawing a loud reaction from the crowd at St. Vincent College.
Rodgers Not Worried About the Interception
Rodgers, a four-time MVP, didn’t let the interception bother him. “It’s good to get that out of the way,” he said. “I’ve been pretty stellar taking care of the football over the years. I’m going to throw some picks, but I’m going to throw some touchdowns, too.”
Rodgers did not throw any touchdowns during the 90-minute practice, but he did complete passes to wide receiver Scotty Miller, tight end Darnell Washington, and wide receiver DK Metcalf.
Rodgers and Metcalf: Building Chemistry
Rodgers completed one pass to Metcalf on three attempts, but he was confident that their connection would improve. “DK and I have worked out in the offseason together. We’ve got a good relationship,” Rodgers said. “We FaceTime, we texted during the offseason, and it’s going to keep growing.”
Rodgers and Metcalf are also suitemates at St. Vincent College. The arrangement, set by head coach Mike Tomlin, was a surprise to both players.
“I was secretly hoping it wasn’t a big lineman or something,” Rodgers said with a smile. “But when I walked in, I saw a standard suitcase. I said, ‘Oh, I think it’s going to be good. This is probably DK.’”
Metcalf was equally surprised when Rodgers knocked on his bathroom door instead of the front door. “I didn’t think I was going to have a roommate, but glad to see you,” Metcalf said.
Tomlin on Rodgers Fitting into Steelers Culture
Mike Tomlin, the Steelers’ head coach, isn’t worried about Rodgers fitting into the team’s culture. “When in Rome, he’s going to be Roman,” Tomlin said. “It’s our job to teach him how we do things.”
Tomlin mentioned that, along with Rodgers, several new high-profile players, including Jalen Ramsey, are adjusting to the team’s culture. Despite their superstar status, the coaching staff embraces the challenge of bringing them into the Steelers’ way of doing things.
Super Bowl Dreams for the Steelers
The Steelers have been busy revamping their roster this offseason, bringing in big names like Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, and Jalen Ramsey. General manager Omar Khan has made it clear that the goal is to build a team capable of winning the Super Bowl.
Rodgers expressed his confidence in the team, saying, “I think there are probably only six to eight teams that really have a legitimate chance. On paper, we’re probably one of those 10 to 12.”
Training Camp and Building Chemistry
Rodgers emphasized that training camp is the foundation of a successful season. “It’s coming together, these 17 practices, and finding chemistry, growing together through our practice,” he said.
“Mike wants to practice at the hottest time of the day, which is interesting, but I love it because it’s a stressor. We see how guys respond to adversity.”
