NFL News & Notes: Is Aaron Rodgers’ Career Near The End?
This Sunday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7), led by four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, face the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) in a do-or-die game.
The winner of this Jan. 4 regular-season finale at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh claims the AFC North division title and advances to the NFL playoffs as the conference's No. 4 seed. The losing team goes home. The game airs on NBC, beginning at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Going into the game, one lingering question is whether the 42-year-old Rodgers, a former Super Bowl MVP with the Green Bay Packers, will retire after this season.
Though only two years removed from season-opening Achilles tendon rupture while quarterbacking the New York Jets in 2023, Rodgers’ current statistics are respectable.
So far this season, Rodgers’ passer rating is 95.3, placing him 13th in the league. The NFL leaders in this category are Drake Maye of the New England Patriots (112.9) and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams (108.8).
In another key category, completion percentage, Rodgers is 15th in the NFL at 65.5%. Maye is the league leader at 71.7%.
Finally, in passing yardage, Rodgers is 18th with 3,028 yards. Four quarterbacks have thrown for more than 4,000 yards (the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, the Lions’ Jared Goff, Maye and Stafford).
Currently, Rodgers isn’t even the oldest active quarterback in the league. That title belongs to 44-year-old Philip Rivers of the Indianapolis Colts.
Win or lose on Sunday, Rodgers appears in shape to play at least another year, if that’s what he wants to do. Keep in mind, Tom Brady was named a Super Bowl MVP at age 43 and played his last NFL game at 45.
Shough Gives Saints Hope
While Rodgers’ future remains unclear, a new group of younger quarterbacks is emerging, including New Orleans Saints (6-10) rookie Tyler Shough (pronounced shuck).
After taking over the starting quarterback role from Spencer Rattler earlier this season, Shough has been solid, leading the Saints on a four-game winning streak. Though the Saints are out of playoff contention this season, the team views Shough, now in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year, as a sign that the future is bright.
As DraftKings Sportsbook noted in a recent social media post, the Saints since Dec. 1 have had more wins than New England, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Denver, both Los Angeles teams, Green Bay, Chicago or San Francisco.
The 6-foot-5, 219-pound Shough, a second-round draft pick from Louisville, has set several Saints’ rookie quarterback records, even eclipsing New Orleans legend Archie Manning in passing touchdowns at seven scoring receptions in seven starts.
Shough also is doing well compared to other rookie quarterbacks, especially in the important passer-rating category. The following rookie QB statistics recently were posted on a BetMGM social media site. The order below is based on games started.
- Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans: 16 games started, 3,117 passing yards, 16 total TDs, 7 interceptions, 79.8 passer rating.
- Jaxon Dart, New York Giants: 11 games started, 2,042 passing yards, 11 total TDs, 5 interceptions, 89.8 passer rating.
- Shough, New Orleans Saints: 8 games started, 2,125 passing yards, 22 total TDs, 5 interceptions, 92.1 passer rating.
- Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns: 6 games started, 1,289 passing yards, 8 total TDs, 10 interceptions, 68.5 passer rating.
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