Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is refusing to let veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers off the hook following a disappointing performance in the team’s recent 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. While Tomlin acknowledged that Rodgers had an “off night,” he expressed confidence that the 21-year NFL veteran will bounce back and continue to perform at a high level despite one of the worst outings of his career.
In the game against the Chargers, Rodgers completed just 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards, managing only one touchdown, which came during garbage time. He also threw two interceptions, including one that was nearly caught by wide receiver Calvin Austin III but ended up bouncing off his hands. Additionally, Rodgers was sacked for a safety, contributing to the Steelers’ lopsided defeat. Despite the final score, Tomlin emphasized that the game was never truly close, with the Chargers dominating the Steelers on both sides of the ball.
Tomlin was quick to credit the Chargers for playing better football, particularly in their defensive effort against Pittsburgh’s offense. However, he rejected the notion that the Steelers’ offense had become too predictable. Instead, he pointed to the team’s ongoing struggles to sustain drives, especially on third downs. The Steelers have converted only 36% of their third-down attempts throughout the season, and their recent performance has been even more concerning — just 21% conversion over the last three games. This inability to extend drives has hurt the offense’s rhythm and limited scoring opportunities.
A key factor in the offense’s struggles has been the difficulty in supporting star wide receiver DK Metcalf. Opposing defenses have often double-teamed Metcalf, and the Steelers have failed to capitalize on that by getting other players involved. Over the past three weeks, Metcalf has been held to only 10 catches for 96 yards. Tomlin admitted that the coaching staff must do a better job putting other players in positions to succeed and create big plays.
Despite these offensive issues, the Steelers have not made any significant trades to bolster their receiving corps beyond Metcalf, choosing instead to preserve their draft capital for the future. Recently, the team did sign Marquez Valdez-Scantling, a two-time Super Bowl winner, to their practice squad. Tomlin did not dismiss the possibility of Valdez-Scantling being promoted to the active roster for the upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals, suggesting that the team is looking for ways to inject new weapons into the offense.
Tomlin’s desire for more explosive plays is clear. The Steelers have only managed a handful of receptions that have gone for more than 40 yards this season, and most of those have relied heavily on yards gained after the catch rather than deep, downfield completions. The coach stressed that if the team struggles to convert on key possession downs, they must compensate by creating big, momentum-shifting plays.
Improving offensive efficiency would also open up opportunities for running back Jaylen Warren, who has been productive in limited touches. Warren has averaged an impressive 5.0 yards per touch over the last five games but has not exceeded 20 touches in any single game since September. Tomlin explained that if the team can convert more third downs and sustain drives, Warren would naturally see more action, making the offense more dynamic and balanced. In the recent game against the Chargers, Warren appeared to be on track for a strong performance but was ultimately limited by the offense’s failure to extend drives.
As the Steelers prepare to face the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium, they could have some key players returning from injury. Veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo is expected to practice after missing the Chargers game due to a pectoral injury. Safety Jabrill Peppers, who was inactive against Los Angeles with a quadriceps issue, may also be available. Additionally, wide receiver Scotty Miller has been cleared to return to practice following finger surgery. These potential returns could provide a boost to both the offense and defense as Pittsburgh seeks to avenge a narrow 33-31 loss to the Bengals earlier in the season.
On the other hand, the team’s safety Juan Thornhill will not be part of the future plans. Thornhill was cut from the roster after Tomlin stated that his performance “wasn’t up to snuff.” Thornhill started the season as the Steelers’ starting safety alongside DeShon Elliott but saw his playing time diminish as the team’s injury situation forced the coaching