As of Wednesday morning, it was nonetheless believed that quarterback Aaron Rodgers would select the Minnesota Vikings over the Pittsburgh Steelers within the occasion that the Vikings do not wish to identify 2024 first-round draft decide J.J. McCarthy their QB1 coming off the full meniscus repair that value McCarthy his rookie season.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert addressed when and why the Vikings would flip to Rodgers earlier than the beginning of coaching camp.
“McCarthy must show overwhelming proof this spring that he won’t be able to play this season,” Seifert defined, “both due to an harm or a whole reversal of the talents and aptitude he demonstrated throughout his quick time in coaching camp final summer time. Take into account Rodgers a break-the-glass choice in case of an emergency. In any other case, the Vikings are dedicated to their plan of getting McCarthy onto the sector for the 2025 season.”
Seifert’s replace could present why Steelers proprietor and president Artwork Rooney II stated on Tuesday that “we preserve listening to that [Rodgers] is heading in our course.” Whereas historical past reveals {that a} 41-year-old future Corridor of Fame quarterback does not have to be in a membership’s facility throughout organized workforce actions to search out success that fall, one would assume Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin will need his 2025 Week 1 starter within the constructing earlier than July comes round.
In Wednesday’s piece, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor famous that Rodgers “might contemplate retirement after his personal 20-year profession” or “might wait for one more workforce to come back calling within the occasion of an harm.” The truth that he not too long ago accomplished a throwing session with Steelers large receiver DK Metcalf seemingly signifies Rodgers is extra serious about taking part in later this yr than in using off into the sundown.
With that stated, every day Rodgers stays unsigned is one that would contain McCarthy enduring some kind of setback that theoretically would trigger Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell to achieve out to his longtime friend about serving as a short lived starter for a workforce that received 14 of 16 video games this previous season till Sam Darnold produced a pair of nightmare outings.
