The Pittsburgh Steelers will begin their season on Sunday against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The game features notable storylines, including a quarterback swap during the offseason: Aaron Rodgers moved from the Jets to the Steelers, while Justin Fields went from the Steelers to the Jets.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn will make his debut as an NFL head coach in this matchup. Glenn acknowledged the challenge ahead for his team, stating, “Really good opponent for us to start our season off against. Really good players. Coach (Mike) Tomlin did a really good job of bringing in good, quality veterans on this team.
“Really good coach who has done a lot of winning in this league. So, this will be a good challenge for us, and our guys are looking forward to the challenge, as well as our coaches are, too.”
Glenn addressed several topics before the game, including facing former Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and other key players such as linebacker T.J. Watt and receiver DK Metcalf.
On preparing for Rodgers, Glenn said: “That’s really nothing to talk about because of who he is. He challenges in all ways, as far as him as a thrower, getting guys in and out of the huddle, being able to see the defense, being able to put the guys in the right position. Listen, he’s a future Hall of Famer. We all know that. So, he’s going to cause problems no matter what.”
When asked about evaluating Rodgers after 21 seasons in the league and how that impacts game planning, Glenn commented: “I’ve had the opportunity to go against that player a number of times, and listen, he’s always been someone that really understands what the coordinator is thinking. You can tell he does a lot of film study.
“Mentally, that never goes away. Physically, we all start to wane at some point as we get older, but I know at that position when mentally you are on point, man, he makes it a challenge. On tape you will continue to see that.
“When he was here you saw that. The thing that we have to do a really good job of is making sure we give different looks and make sure we try to make it as hard as we can on him because he’s seen it all.”
Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner discussed his approach facing Rodgers: “I am just focused on us. Just buying into everything. The game plan this week. Nothing changes. Just being the best teammate I can be. The best leader I can be.
“I am just preparing like any other game. A lot has changed since he was last here. I am not just going to go based off what I know.”
Linebacker Jamien Sherwood reflected on whether there is an advantage playing against Rodgers after having been teammates: “Everybody does what they need to do to get better each year. I am not going to say there is any advantage. There is stuff we are working on to get better. There is stuff we got better at last from last year. It will be cool to play against him. Obviously he’s played here. We built a friendship. But at the end of the day we’re going out there with one goal in mind and that’s to play football.”
Gardner also spoke about his experience playing with Rodgers: “It was a great experience. Just being able to pick his brain and stuff like that. He spent a lot of time in the league experienced a lot of things It was a great time.”
Justin Fields described his emotions facing his former team: “Cool calm and collected It’s another game to be honest with you We’re out here just trying to get better each and every day and prepare for this upcoming Sunday.”
Fields explained how familiarity with Pittsburgh’s system could help: “I was there last year going against their scout team but it’s Week One They’ve got a lot of new players on the defensive side of the ball so they could do a lot of different things and that’s how it is for everyone around the league in Week One…the biggest thing is just adjusting on the fly on Sunday when we do see stuff that we necessarily didn’t see coming.”
Coach Glenn talked about challenges presented by T.J.Watt: “Another guy that’s at top of his game He’s one of elite pass rushers in this league…you watch him against run he does some pretty outstanding things too.
“Membou knows he has tough job ahead of him…So we have do everything we can help him and this week’s practice is going vital for him…”
Fields also addressed media attention surrounding quarterbacks switching teams: “The storyline is crazy I mean that’s why NFL set us up for Week One just for that But it’s cool Cool kind see that and it’s going fun going up against these guys on Sunday
“It’s no storyline for me It’s ball for me So I’ll let you guys kind handle storylines news lines stuff like that In locker room we just keep straight ball”
Gardner shared thoughts about facing DK Metcalf again: “It’s always good matchup when me and him go against each other I’m looking forward it I know he is as well We played each other couple times”
The opening weekend contest between two teams with new quarterbacks sets up an early test under new leadership.
