Rodgers Says He Doesn't Need Preseason in Final NFL Year

LATROBE, Pa. — Aaron Rodgers says he is savoring what he expects to be his final NFL training camp, but he does not believe he needs to take a snap in the Pittsburgh Steelers' preseason opener against Green Bay on Thursday night.

"It's not real football," Rodgers said of exhibition games, drawing a contrast with what the sport looks like once games count in September. Most defenses are vanilla in August, he said, and most offenses too.

The four-time MVP, who will turn 43 in December, said the preseason still has value — just not for a player entering his 22nd season. "I think preseason football is good to see guys with pads on, under the lights, how they react to the nerves," he said.

Rodgers said he remembers those nerves. As a Green Bay rookie in 2005, he struggled to control his breathing as he ran onto the field, focused first on hearing the play through his headset and repeating it with conviction in the huddle. The harder part, he said, was walking to the line and "trying to remember what else is going on in the play and who's got what."

He would rather spend Thursday in sweatpants with a headset on while backups Will Howard, 24, and Drew Allar, 22, handle most of the work. Howard did not take a live snap last year after an early camp injury. "I like to be the voice of reason, tell the occasional dad joke or one-liner," Rodgers said.

Coach Mike McCarthy, in his first season leading his hometown team, was noncommittal about playing Rodgers, but said he would split the offense into three groups, with the first handling the opening series. Pittsburgh carries four quarterbacks, including Mason Rudolph.

"Frankly, the most important part is the health of the team," McCarthy said. "That's where you tend to maybe pull back and maybe not play the veteran."

Rodgers' last preseason snaps came three years ago with the New York Jets. He said he was open to playing last summer, but then-coach Mike Tomlin held him out; Rodgers threw four touchdowns in a Week 1 win over his old team.

"I think we're ahead of where we were last year," he said of the Steelers.