Aaron Rodgers is not playing in the 2025 preseason games with the Pittsburgh Steelers primarily as a strategic decision by the team and coach Mike Tomlin. Rodgers, who is 41 years old and highly experienced, doesn't see much value in preseason games because the defenses typically play in a simplistic manner, and the playbooks are limited. Coach Tomlin has chosen to keep him out to reduce injury risk and manage his snap count given his age and career experience. Rodgers' first game with the Steelers is set for the regular season opener against his former team, the New York Jets. This cautious approach aligns with how the Steelers manage veteran players' preseason participation, focusing on health and readiness for the regular season rather than preseason game time. Rodgers has expressed openness to playing if asked but supports the coach's decision to keep him out of preseason games since they are not like "real football" in terms of intensity and complexity.