Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers developed a popularity for being a “distraction” and “self-centered” throughout his last years with the Green Bay Packers and his two-season stint with the New York Jets.
Throughout a Wednesday look on ESPN Radio, Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson insisted outsiders have the improper thought about what Rodgers is and is not within the locker room and behind the scenes.
Followers do not know the true Aaron Rodgers
“He has been nice because the day he received right here,” Wilson mentioned about Rodgers, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. “Clearly, when he received right here, you see stuff within the media. You do not know the man. However the second that you just meet him, you notice all that stuff is pretend. He is a terrific chief. He is a superb man.”
Rodgers and Jets extensive receiver Garrett Wilson reportedly “by no means noticed eye-to-eye” final season. Moreover, Rodgers’ relationship with longtime teammate Davante Adams allegedly “annoyed folks” inside the Jets all through the second half of the 2024 marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, the 41-year-old signal-caller seemingly has “pleasantly stunned” Pittsburgh gamers and coaches from the beginning of necessary minicamp in June by means of the membership’s 34-32 win on the Jets this previous Sunday. In whole, Rodgers accomplished 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s victory over his former group.
Pro Football Reference stats present that no participant accrued extra landing passes than Rodgers in Week 1. He additionally ended the opening week of the marketing campaign ranked second within the league with a 136.7 passer ranking.
How Aaron Rodgers made the Pittsburgh protection higher
Earlier this week, Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III noted that Rodgers’ efforts all through the summer time helped get the Pittsburgh offense able to face a powerful Jets protection. In keeping with Wilson, working towards towards Rodgers all through coaching camp made Pittsburgh’s protection a greater unit.
“It was actually cool to go towards him all camp,” Wilson added. “It was clearly actually onerous. It positively made the protection higher, and he is simply been a terrific chief within the constructing. He is been nice on and off the sphere, so it has been nice having him round and to have the ability to compete towards him.”
Time will inform if Rodgers will stay such a preferred determine amongst his teammates as soon as the Steelers begin experiencing the kind of setbacks groups encounter every season. For now, he’ll look to notch a second straight win when Pittsburgh hosts the 0-1 Seattle Seahawks this coming Sunday.
