News Steelers Team Notes

Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers hints at returning in 2026

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are two weeks away from starting their 2025 season against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. It will also mark the first time several new stars will don their new threads. Two of those stars are Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf, neither of whom played in the preseason.

Both did, however, appear on Cam Heyward’s podcast Not Just Football, and the star receiver revealed he is doing his best to convince the four-time MVP to return in 2026.

“I think we’re gonna do some special things,” Metcalf said. “And maybe we can run it back.”

With a sly smile, Rodgers gave Metcalf a one-word answer.

“Maybe.”

Rodgers had previously stated on The Pat McAfee Show after signing with the Steelers that he’s pretty sure 2025 would be his final season.

“I’m pretty sure this is it,” Rodgers said. “And that’s why we did the one-year deal. The Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on it. This was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had. I’ve played 20 frickin years. It’s been a long run and I’ve enjoyed it. What better place to finish than with one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL there’s with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys in a city that expects you to win.”

“I’m pretty sure this is my last season and that’s why we did the one year deal..

I’ve played twenty years and I’ve enjoyed it..

There’s no better way to finish it than with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers” @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/hWN5veErEH

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 24, 2025
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Rodgers speaks very highly of Metcalf, and vice versa. It’s clear that No. 4 would love more than one season with No. 8. Depending on how this season goes, perhaps the Super Bowl XLV champion has one more year in the tank.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

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Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...s-at-returning-in-2026-cam-heyward-dk-metcalf
 
Browns trade former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett to Raiders

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For any Pittsburgh Steelers fan hoping for a chance to see Kenny Pickett start against his old team this season, those dreams have come to an end. The Cleveland Browns have traded the Steelers’ 2022 first-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a fifth-round pick, per Ian Rapoport. This marks the third time in 17 months that Pickett has been traded, and he is one trade shy of trying the NFL record.

🚨 🚨 🚨

QB trade: The #Raiders are trading for #Browns QB Kenny Pickett, sources tell The Insiders, filling a key void before the season. It’s a 2026 5th rounder going back.

With Aidan O’Connell’s injury, Pickett, with plenty of experience, becomes the backup to Geno Smith. pic.twitter.com/ohEEQfj5Za

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 26, 2025
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The Steelers traded Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles in March of 2024 after signing Russell Wilson. After being told that Wilson would start off as QB1, Pickett requested a trade. The Steelers used the 2024 third-round pick they received to draft Payton Wilson.

The Eagles traded him to the Browns this past March, where he eventually became part of the most-discussed quarterback battle in the NFL – a four-man fight between himself, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. Now, he goes to Las Vegas where he will serve as the backup to Geno Smith.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

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Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...ttsburgh-steelers-qb-kenny-pickett-to-raiders
 
Let’s talk Steelers: Which D-linemen make the 53-man roster?

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The NFL cutdown deadline is today. Teams have until 4 p.m. EST to reduce their rosters from 90 players to 53.

The Steelers, like the rest of the league, have gotten a head start on the process, having made two waves of cuts already.

However, the team still has a number of moves to go before the roster is cut down to 53. And one of the hardest position battles to predict is along the defensive line.

Which defensive linemen will the Steelers keep on their 53-man roster?​


At the time of this writing, the Steelers currently have 10 players listed at defensive line on their roster:

  • Cam Heyward
  • Keeanu Benton
  • Derrick Harmon
  • Yahya Black
  • Isaiahh Loudermilk
  • Daniel Ekuale
  • Esezi Otomewo
  • Logan Lee
  • DeMarvin Leal
  • Domenique Davis

In my Aug. 20 roster prediction for Steelers Read & React, I predicted that six would make the regular season roster: Heyward, Benton, Harmon, Black, Loudermilk, and Otomewo.

But now, with Harmon injured and expected to miss at least one game (but likely avoid short-term injured reserve), I think the Steelers will keep seven at the position instead — a number they’ve gone with in years past anyway.

Updating my roster prediction, I’ll add Daniel Ekuale to the season-opening 53. He played plenty of snaps with the second-team defense during the preseason, and with 57 career starts (16 last year), he has the experience to help fill in during Harmon’s absence.

By adding an extra D-lineman, a player has to be subtracted from a different position group. In this case, it could be bad news for a roster bubble defender such as Beanie Bishop Jr., who barely made my predicted roster on Wednesday.

Soon, predictions will give way to the real thing. NFL teams will have their 53-man teams announced later today, even if roster stays fluid the entire year.

What are your thoughts on the Steelers’ D-line situation? How many will they keep? Join the BTSC community and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...ne-derrick-harmon-esezi-otomewo-daniel-ekuale
 
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