For a player who hopes to get a new contract, a hold-in protects him from getting injured before he can get paid.
And while shifting the injury risk to the team is very important to the player, there’s another significant consideration for both the player and the team after the hold-in ends.
The overriding goal is to not get injured at all, obviously. As one league source recently explained it to PFT, there is some data to support the idea that injuries are more likely to happen after a hold-in, if the players returns to full duty without a proper acclimation period.
As the source said, the data “should not be dismissed.”
That puts the onus on everyone involved to make sure that, once a hold-in ends, the team and the player are being smart about what he does and when he does it.
In the case of Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater, his torn patellar tendon happened not long after he got the second contract he had earned. But there is, we’re told, at least a question as to whether he was doing too much, too soon.
Basically, the player’s mindset shouldn’t be, “I got my deal and I’m ready to go.” The team needs to be aware of that, too.
With several players throughout the league currently holding in, it’s important to remember that.
Specifically, it will be a factor for Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, Bills running back James Cook, Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward, and any other players who may be practicing less or not at all while contract negotiations continue.
Yes, Slater got his contract. That’s good. Tearing a patellar tendon and missing all of 2025 is definitely not, for him or for the Chargers.
It’s something to watch with all hold-ins, now and in the future.
Aaron Rodgers recently said “preseason football is not necessarily real football.” And he’s right.
Still, in August, preseason football is the closest thing we have to real football. And, on Saturday night, the two Steelers quarterbacks who played against the Jaguars did a pretty good job playing not necessarily real football.
With Mason Rudolph taking only 15 snaps and Skylar Thompson handling 51, both performed very well.
Rudolph, who got the start, completed nine of 10 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Passer rating? 135.0.
With rookie Will Howard injured, Thompson handled the rest of the game. He completed 20 of 28 passes, generating 233 yards and three touchdown passes. Rating? 132.0.
“Good to be back in the black and gold, man,” Rudolph said after the game in a one-question press conference. (It was one more question than coach Mike Tomlin got.)
Ideally, neither Rudolph nor Thompson (nor Howard) will handle anything more than garbage time this season. But maybe, if one or more of them are needed to play, the cause won’t already be lost.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face his most recent former team in 29 days. Will he be ready for Week 1 at the Jets?
If he is, it apparently won’t be a result of playing in the preseason.
In a conversation with Bob Labriola of the team’s official website, coach Mike Tomlin was reminded that some NFL coaches don’t play their starting quarterback during the preseason. Would Tomlin consider doing that?
“You might be looking at one in 2025,” Tomlin said. “Hey, [Aaron Rodgers] has been doing this for 21 years. His cumulative snap total and what’s required for him to be ready is different than others. And so if I’m not adaptable and open to adjustments relative to the needs of our guys, then I’m not doing my job. And so you might be looking at one of those coaches in 2025.”
On one hand, that makes sense. On the other hand, Rodgers is new to the Steelers. He showed up just before mandatory minicamp. He didn’t participate in team drills until training camp. He has plenty of work to do to be ready to roll, especially at 41.
It’s hard not to wonder whether Tomlin is simply yielding to the wishes of Rodgers, who recently said he’s “fully on board” with playing in the preseason before explaining that “preseason football is not necessarily real football.” (As explained in the attached clip, Rodgers has a tell; when he disagrees with something, he calls it “interesting.”)
So here’s an interesting question. Does Tomlin truly believe Rodgers doesn’t need preseason reps, or is he simply giving into the wishes of his quarterback?
If it’s the latter, do the other players sense it?
Some have suggested that Rodgers would have won as many or more championships as Tom Brady if he’d spent his career playing for Bill Belichick. That would have required Rodgers to fully submit to Belichick’s ways, the same way Brady did. For the same number of years.
Rodgers simply isn’t wired to do that. Maybe Belichick could have re-wired Rodgers, if Belichick had gotten his hands on Rodgers as a rookie.
Some will dismiss this take as Rodgers Derangement Syndrome. Others will realize that football only works if the coach runs the show — and if all of the players submit to that reality.
Especially the starting quarterback.
Regardless of the basis for the apparent decision to not play Rodgers in the preseason, the proof will be in the results. Starting soon. And continuing through Week 18.
The Cowboys placed a pair of offensive linemen on injured reserve Friday and they added one to the roster in another move.
The NFL’s daily transaction report shows that they have claimed guard Nick Broeker off of waivers. Broeker was dropped by the Steelers on Thursday.
Friday’s report also shows that they placed Dakoda Shepley on injured reserve. The team previously announced that Rob Hunt went on the list and that they signed running back Malik Davis.
Broeker played in 12 games for the Texans over the last two seasons with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. He signed with the Steelers in May.
On one level, players who want new contracts are present but not practicing, in order to leverage their teams into giving them new deals. On another level, something far more important is happening.
The players are avoiding a potentially serious injury.
Consider the case of Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater. Taken one pick after Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons in the 2021 draft, Slater signed his long-term deal late last month. He has his generational payday. And he has shifted the injury risk to the Chargers.
If he hadn’t gotten his new contract before suffering a torn patellar tendon, he wouldn’t have gotten it after the injury. He would have had to get healthy. He possibly would have been required to sign a one-year contract, proving that he’s healthy and effective.
Regardless, the injury would have changed everything. Which is why it’s even more important for a player who has earned his next contract to protect himself until he gets it.
So that’s why Parsons and Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin and Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Bills running back James Cook and Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward aren’t practicing. They don’t want to suffer the kind of injury that destroys their earning capacity.
Defensive lineman Cam Heyward isn’t the only Steeler looking for a raise. Chris Bowell also is seeking a new contract from the team, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Unlike Heyward, Boswell has participated in practice, though he has made it known to the management, he isn’t happy with his current deal.
In 2022, Boswell signed a four-year, $20.5 million extension that tied him with Justin Tucker as the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. Boswell, though, was the lowest-paid kicker in the AFC North last season despite earning All-Pro honors.
Boswell, who is signed through 2026, has no guaranteed money left on his deal.
His $5 million average ranks him only 11th among players at his position, with Harrison Butker’s $6.4 million annual average leading the way.
Last season, Boswell made 41-of-44 field goals and all 35 extra points. In his 10-year career, he has made 88 percent of his field goals and 95.4 percent of his extra points.
The Steelers have a long-standing team policy not to negotiate with players once the season starts, so time is ticking on both Heyward and Boswell.
Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward hasn’t been a full participant in practice at training camp and it’s not because the team is dialing back the workload of a proven veteran.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Heyward is looking for a raise as he heads into his 15th season in Pittsburgh.
Heyward received $13.45 million of his $14.75 million in compensation for 2025 via a roster bonus and he is under contract for $14.5 million for the 2026 season. Most of that money is also due to come as a roster bonus and none of it is guaranteed.
Per the report, Heyward and the Steelers have had talks about reworking the deal but they have not made progress toward a new agreement. The Steelers have a policy of not negotiating during the season, so the two sides may be running low on time for that to change before the calendar flips to 2026.
The Steelers announced on Thursday that the club has signed quarterback Logan Woodside and offensive lineman Andrus Peat.
Woodside provides depth at a position that got thinner with rookie quarterback Will Howard’s recent hand injury. While head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Thursday that Howard may be able to get back at some point during training camp, Woodside is healthy and could potentially play as soon as this weekend.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith previously coached Woodside with the Titans and Falcons. He’s appeared in 13 career regular-season games, completing 4-of-7 passes for 34 yards with an interception.
Peat, 31, spent last season with the Raiders, appearing in 15 games with one start. A Saints first-round pick in 2015, Peat has appeared in 126 career games with 103 starts. He was a Pro Bowler in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
As corresponding moves, the Steelers waived long snapper Tucker Addington and guard Nick Broeker.
As it turns out, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will not ask quarterback Aaron Rodgers to play in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener.
Tomlin told reporters on Thursday that Rodgers is among a long list of major Steelers contributors who will not be on the field against the Jaguars on Saturday night.
“I’ve identified some guys that won’t be playing in this game this week,” Tomlin said, via Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show. “It has nothing to do with injury. They need less runway to take off, to be quite honest with you, because of their experience and where they are in their careers. Oftentimes, I preserve them through this process while providing more opportunity for those that need more preparation, or more opportunity to display their talents and so forth.”
Tomlin then listed many players who won’t play, including Rodgers, edge rusher T.J. Watt, defensive lineman Cam Heyward, receiver DK Metcalf, defensive back Jalen Ramsey, tight end Pat Freiermuth, and tight end Jonnu Smith — among others.
Rodgers had said earlier this week that he was “fully on board” to play in the first preseason game if that’s what Tomlin wanted. Rodgers last played in the preseason in 2023 with the Jets, but before that he hadn’t participated in a preseason game since 2018.
When Aaron Rodgers arrived for minicamp practices in Pittsburgh, he didn’t like his new helmet.
He now has a different one.
Rodgers had worn the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, for years. It landed on the banned list for 2025.
“I can’t stand the helmet,” Rodgers said during mandatory minicamp. “I’ve worn a Schutt for 20 years and somehow it finally didn’t pass the safety standard.”
When training camp opened, Rodgers was wearing a different helmet. Per the team, he’ll be using the Schutt Air XP Po VTD II for the 2025 season.
It’s one of the few remaining helmets with a smooth, flat shell. More and more of them have holes and flats and divots and undulations.
