Aaron Rodgers shrugged off the career milestones he added in Pittsburgh’s 34-22 win over Indianapolis and pointed instead to the next problem: finding targets. After Wednesday’s practice, the quarterback said the Steelers are looking at “in-house options” with three of the six wide receivers they carried into the season opener unavailable.
“It seems like, at this point, it’s just in-house options. We’ve got a talented p-squad group of guys, guys who have played football at the highest level and made plays,” Rodgers said.
Tonyan and the practice squad
One option is not a wide receiver at all. Veteran tight end Robert Tonyan, who shared a Green Bay locker room with Rodgers for years, has played only 14 offensive snaps this season and has a 2-yard catch against Cincinnati. Rodgers expects him to see more work.
“Obviously, Bobby has played a lot of football and played at the highest level, so I’m sure he’ll get more opportunities,” Rodgers said. “B. Smith, Brandon Johnson, Isaiah — we’ll get some guys who haven’t seen a lot of time out there and expect them to play well.”
He named practice-squad wideouts Brandon Smith, Brandon Johnson and Isaiah Hodgins as players he trusts for Sunday’s road game at Tampa Bay. “I have a lot of trust in those guys,” Rodgers said. “I’ve always been a fan of Brandon Johnson; he had his locker right next to mine last year and we had some great conversations. He’s played and played well when he’s gotten opportunities. Obviously, I know B. Smith from New York and I’m a big believer in him. And then Isaiah was here with us last year, then went to New York and made a bunch of plays. I like those guys a lot.”
Feeling healthier, still building continuity
Rodgers said he felt better moving in the pocket against the Colts after spending the bye with his bodywork specialist out west. “I’m just getting healthier,” he said. “First couple weeks I was a little tighter I felt like, and I’m starting to loosen up and feel a little bit more like myself.”
Asked whether he can still climb as he learns a new offense five weeks in, he agreed the arrow is up. “We’re still five games into playing with each other,” Rodgers said. “I’d like to think that there’s more continuity with me and the guys out there. You’re seeing some more reactionary plays that we talk about in practice and we work in practice showing up on the field on game day. So I’m happy with the progression.”
He also liked how tight end Darnell Washington got involved last week in bigger personnel groupings with Spencer Anderson. “He’s a smart player, and it was fun to see him get some opportunities on Sunday,” Rodgers said.
Bowles’ pressure package
Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles brings the third-highest blitz rate in the league through five weeks, behind only Minnesota and Washington. Rodgers said the Steelers will have to handle the disguise as much as the volume.
“Obviously, Todd has a history of bringing a lot of pressures,” Rodgers said. “We’ll be ready for those. But he brings a lot of stuff you haven’t seen before, so, good disguise team, good pressure team. We’ll have to pick them up and get the ball out.”
Kickoff in Tampa is Sunday, October 18.
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