Why Aaron Rodgers' Steelers Debut Was Both Encouraging And Ominous

Aaron Rodgers knew that when he left the New York Jets in February, "there were probably people in the organization that didn’t think I could play anymore." He wasn’t wrong. Many around the league shared that opinion, too.

For one glorious afternoon, though, Rodgers silenced his doubters with a four-touchdown masterpiece in his return to the Meadowlands for his revenge game against the Jets. In leading his new team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to a 34-32 win, he displayed most of his old, wonderful traits — the strong arm, the pinpoint accuracy, the brilliant decision-making.

He brought hope to the entire city of Pittsburgh with his 22-of-30, 244-yard performance and the drive that led to Chris Boswell’s game-winning, 60-yard field goal. He looked like the Rodgers of old, not an old Rodgers.

But there’s an undercurrent of worry with everything Rodgers does this season. 

"How long can it last?" an NFL executive told Fox Sports. "That’s my worry with him. He’s still got the ability to be a top-10 quarterback. But for how long? The Steelers are going to spend the season holding their breath."

Aaron Rodgers is the first QB in 60 years to throw four touchdowns and 240 yards without an interception in a team debut. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

That’s the question that’s going to hover over Rodgers and the Steelers all season long, because the future Hall of Famer isn’t just chasing one last championship, he’s trying to out-run Father Time. He’s 41 and coming off two injury-plagued seasons, and he’s at an age where once the injuries start, they don’t usually stop.

So, yes, he can still sling it with the best of them as he showed on Sunday. To be fair, he showed it last year, too, when he threw for 3,897 yards and 28