It’s clear to even casual observers that quarterback Aaron Rodgers still hopes the Minnesota Vikings will give him a chance to start over 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy later this year. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers are waiting to see if they’ll be Rodgers’ fallback option.
NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic revealed in the latest edition of her “Scoop City” podcast (h/t Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report) that individuals “she has spoken to believe Rodgers’ preference is to sign with the” Vikings. Russini also indicated that Vikings fans may want to get used to the former Green Bay Packers star serving as Minnesota’s short-term starter.
“I do think there’s a world — and I know Vikings fans don’t want to see it,” Russini said, as shared by Joe Nelson of Sports Illustrated. “Whether it’s their hate for Aaron Rodgers. Whether it’s they feel J.J.’s not getting a fair shake. Whatever the reason is for why some Vikings fans don’t want to see Aaron Rodgers, they have to come to grips — there is a world that exists, this year, where Aaron Rodgers hangs out and the Minnesota Vikings pick up the phone and they make the call. It could happen.”
Rodgers reportedly could sit through at least the 2025 season if he doesn’t hear from the Vikings between now and the end of the year. Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did not rule out Rodgers being an option for the club after McCarthy made it known he hasn’t officially been named the Week 1 starter coming off the meniscus repair that sidelined him during his rookie campaign.
“McCarthy has not been told he is the starter,” Russini continued. “He has not been told he is the No. 1 guy. Even before Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold walked away, or at least went to other teams (via free agency), it was always discussed that it would be a competition this summer. They’re not telling him anything. That is also telling to me. They don’t know. How could they know? He’s coming off injury. They need to see it.”
Longtime backup Mason Rudolph is on track to be Pittsburgh’s starter if Rodgers doesn’t join the club this offseason. With each report suggesting that the future Hall of Famer wants the Vikings over the Steelers, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin putting all his eggs in the Rodgers basket looks worse and worse.
