The Chicago Bears may be catching a major break next Sunday under center when the Pittsburgh Steelers travel west to Soldier Field for a critical Week 12 matchup for both franchises in the Windy City.
Steelers starting QB Aaron Rodgers left a 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals with a left wrist injury. Mason Rudolph was called in to replace the future Hall of Famer and finished the game with a nearly identical stat line to Rodgers. Rudolph had 127 passing yards with a passing touchdown and an interception on 16 attempts through the air. Rodgers had 116 passing yards with a passing touchdown and an interception on 15 attempts.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn't exactly provide much information about the injury when asked by reporters on Sunday what the future holds for his soon-to-be 42-year-old quarterback in his final season. Rodgers doesn't have a long history of wrist injuries, especially not in his non-throwing hand, but any injury to a signal caller of his age is one worth worrying about if you're a fan in the Steel City.
"Aaron's obviously out with a wrist injury," Tomlin said, via SteelerNation.com. "He'll be evaluated in the morning. I'll give you guys more information there."
While Rudolph looked great, it was against a Bengals defense that's been hemorrhaging points all season. There are legitimate questions about his ability to step in on short notice, even if he was signed for this exact situation.
Bears Riding Wave of Momentum With Aaron Rodgers News
After a strong performance Sunday during a 19-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Bears are riding a wave of momentum. To potentially not face Rodgers, a QB who has been a thorn in the side of the franchise for much of his career, only keeps that momentum going.
At 7-3, the Bears are in a great position to end a five-year playoff drought this season. With the Green Bay Packers also winning, Chicago needed to knock off the division's cellar-dweller in Minnesota.
While it wasn't always pretty, the Bears accomplished Sunday's mission by going on the road and picking up a victory. Now, turning the page to their next battle, the mission against Rudolph and a Steelers offense that may also be down running back Jaylen Warren, is far from the most daunting task for Ben Johnson and Co.
After years of not living up to expectations, things are finally looking up for the Bears. Caleb Williams hasn't been spectacular under center, but his team has won four of its last five. The defense has upped its game over that stretch, as well, holding opposing offenses to 20 points or less in four of their past five appearances.
For some teams, when it rains, it pours. That is the reality of the situation for the Steelers after Week 11. While the injury to Rodgers isn't good news in the grand scheme of things, especially with so few chances to watch him play football left, it is a sigh of relief for Chicago, which still has a chance at winning its first NFC North crown since 2018.