Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is set to return on Sunday against the host Buffalo Bills after being cleared from a left wrist injury that sidelined him for one game, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Friday.
Rodgers, 41, fractured the wrist in the Steelers’ Nov. 16 win over Cincinnati and was held out of last week’s loss to Chicago as the team opted for caution. Backup Mason Rudolph started in his place, but Tomlin said a full week of practice convinced medical staff that Rodgers could safely return.
“He was a full participant today with no designation for the game,” Tomlin said, “so it’s all systems go.”
Rodgers’ return comes at a pivotal moment for Pittsburgh (6-5), which has dropped two of its past three games and seen its AFC North lead shrink under pressure from Baltimore.
The Steelers also expect wide receiver DK Metcalf (ankle) and edge rusher Alex Highsmith (pectoral) to be available after both were cleared late in the week.
Rodgers enters Sunday just 79 passing yards shy of 65,000 for his career, a milestone reached by only four other quarterbacks. In his first season with Pittsburgh after 18 years in Green Bay and two with the New York Jets, he has thrown for 1,969 yards and 19 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
The Steelers visit the Bills (7-4) in a matchup that could shape the AFC playoff race as the season enters its final stretch.
