As the wait on Aaron Rodgers continues for the Steelers, an end doesn't appear to be in sight.
Although their season outlook depends significantly on Rodgers' decision, players participating in Pittsburgh's offseason activities aren't spending much time thinking about it, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.
"I think we just try to put our best foot forward every day," edge rusher Alex Highsmith said told Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo on Thursday's The Insiders. "Like with who's in the building right now. I know Mason [Rudolph] being there, he's done a great job. The guys are rallying around him and, like I said, he's been with us before and guys know him, Pittsburgh fans know him. The way that he helped us finish in 2023 was awesome.
"No matter who's back there for us, whether it's him or if Aaron Rodgers is gonna come, I'm just excited. Whoever's back there, we're gonna have their backs and we're gonna rally behind them. Just excited for whoever it's gonna be."
With each week that passes, the questions will intensify. Training camp is roughly two months away, and while that leaves plenty of time for Rodgers to join the Steelers, the lack of a decision is leaving Pittsburgh hanging. It won't be long before the questions regarding Rodgers become an annoyance, the precursor to the next step in the storyline evolution: distraction. That hasn't happened yet, though.
"I get asked a lot by my peers and some friends who are fans and stuff like that," Highsmith said when asked how often he was asked about Rodgers and if it was a distraction. "I just feel like in the locker room, we're in there working and I think that's just really what it's about at this point. I know that if he does sign, we're definitely going to be really excited to have him. We know who he is. He's a Hall of Fame quarterback. He's one of the best to ever do it.
"I wouldn't say it's a distraction at all, but we all know what type of quarterback he is and what he brings to the table."
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