Steelers' Tomlin expects Rodgers to play vs. Bills next week - ESPN

CHICAGO — Mike Tomlin expects Aaron Rodgers to be ready for next week's game against the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach said Sunday after his team fell to the Chicago Bears with Mason Rudolph starting at quarterback.

Rodgers, who fractured his left wrist against the Cincinnati Bengals a week ago, was not active against the Bears and did not serve as the emergency third quarterback.

«I anticipate him being ready for next week,» Tomlin said after the 31-28 loss. «It was a prudent decision to make. Certainly it wasn't a fluid week for him, it was a fluid week for Mason in terms of reps and so forth, and so I think it'll be in our rear view as we move forward. I'm hopeful of that.»

On Tuesday, though, Tomlin suggested that Rodgers didn't need to practice in order to play Sunday.

«He's the type of guy — and has the type of profile — that doesn't require a lot of physical work in an effort to be ready to play,» Tomlin said then at his weekly news conference. «And that's helpful.»

After sitting out Wednesday's practice, Rodgers wore a wrist stabilizer and was a limited participant in practice on Thursday and Friday.

Tomlin said he made the decision that Rodgers would not play on Saturday, and he told Rudolph the same day that he would start. Some teammates said they found out Sunday that Rodgers wouldn't play, including center Zach Frazier.

«Found out today,» he said, adding that it didn't change anything for him or the offense. «I feel like you know both the quarterbacks prepared well, and we were ready for either one to to go today. And obviously Mason, Mason was ready. He prepared all week and was confident in the gameplan. We were confident in him.»

Asked if Rodgers wanted to play Sunday, Tomlin said