Aaron Rodgers may have just revealed Steelers’ wide receiver pecking order with telling Germie Bernard comment
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a battle going on at running back and backup quarterback, but the WR No. 3 position can’t be ignored. However, following some telling comments from Aaron Rodgers, it makes you wonder if the battle is already over.
Aaron Rodgers held his press conference before the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, and while the veteran quarterback cracked jokes about pranks and explained why he doesn’t need preseason reps, the most telling moment came when he was asked about two of his wide receivers. The contrast between what Rodgers said about Roman Wilson and what he said about rookie Germie Bernard paints a clear picture of where the Steelers’ receiving corps stands heading into 2026.
When discussing the former, Rodgers praised how much Roman Wilson has overcome, how he’s developed, and how much better he looks. The tone shifted when the conversation turned to Bernard.
Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Rodgers said “he has a bright future and is a great kid, but he has to learn the offense inside and out.”
Steelers 2026 preseason schedule
All start times 7:oo pm EST.
- Week 1 vs. Green Bay Packers (Thursday, August 13).
- Week 2 vs. New York Jets (Friday, August 21).
- Week 3 at Buffalo Bills (Thursday, August 27).
This shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows Rodgers
The truth is, if you’ve followed Rodgers’ career dating back to the Packers, then the New York Jets, and now the Steelers, this is a pattern. Think about who was on the field in high-leverage situations for Pittsburgh last season. It was Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen. Rodgers gravitates toward veterans. He gravitates toward players he’s been around. He wants to know that when it’s 11-on-11 in a pressure scenario, his pass catchers will be exactly where he expects them to be, exactly when he expects them to be there.
With a rookie wide receiver, no matter how talented he is, that consistency just isn’t always there yet. Bernard may have the tools, but Rodgers’ trust has to be earned through repetition and mastery of the playbook.
Bernard flashed, but Wilson may have the edge
From being on-site in Latrobe watching Steelers training camp, I was very impressed with Bernard. There’s a world where Bernard, Wilson, and DK Metcalf form the best trio of wide receivers on the roster. The talent is there for the second-round pick out of Alabama.
But here’s the thing. If you told me that for the majority of the season, Pittsburgh’s top three wide receivers are Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Wilson, I wouldn’t be surprised at all after hearing this quote from Rodgers. Wilson has the benefit of two years in the system, familiarity with the quarterback, and a track record of development that Rodgers has clearly noticed.
The bottom line
Bernard’s time will come. The talent is evident, and Rodgers himself acknowledged the rookie’s bright future. But Rodgers has never been the type of quarterback to hand a prominent role to a young receiver before that player has proven he knows the offense inside and out. In my opinion, Wilson has earned the inside track to be the Steelers’ third receiver, and Bernard will have to work his way into the rotation as the season progresses.
