Before Aaron Rodgers finally announced his decision to move to Pittsburgh, HC Mike Tomlin brought in Skylar Thompson to his QB room. With the return of Mason Rudolph as the acting primary signal caller and rookie Will Howard gaining attention to possibly become the franchise QB at some point, Thompson became an afterthought. Many even wondered if the Steelers would trade him before the season. But he has made his case with his preseason performances that even overtook Rudolph’s. Have a look:

Skylar Thompson’s performance this preseason has made him hard to ignore. And Mike Tomlin, who eagerly wants to build his offense as good as his defense, has noted everything. Steelers Depot tweeted the head coach’s thoughts on his current QB3 after wrapping up the preseason. He said, “He’s got playing experience. This guy started games in Miami, and so I think that experience shows. And we’re talking regular-season games,” he said.

Regular-season games as QB3 don’t seem likely. But looks like Tomlin is thinking what we’re thinking– Skylar might officially be in the QB2 conversation.

The box scores and records add to the story. After the preseason, Thompson sits with 498 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 pick. Insane numbers for a guy who was penciled in as QB3 even before he entered Pittsburgh. Mason Rudolph, by comparison, has 160 yards with 2 scores and 2 interceptions. And it’s not just the stats. You can see the pace and the conviction in his plays.

Zoom in on the finale in Charlotte, and it’s clear why the narrative is starting to flip. In the 19–10 win over the Panthers, Thompson carved up the defense, going 11-of-13 for 152 yards and a score after taking over for Rudolph. The veteran was running the offense on time and closing drives. That’s the kind of tape coaches flag when it’s time to lock in the 53 and set the depth chart. And we aren’t the only ones betting on him.

2x Super Bowl winner Charlie Batch is jumping on the bandwagon, too. “I do believe that Skylar Thompson is in that conversation for the backup quarterback job with his play in the preseason,” he said. Even if Tomlin decides to cut him, Thompson has made his case for other teams despite not being a consistent QB previously.

His days with Miami paint a dark picture. A round 7 pick of the 2022 draft, Thompson played just 7 games that season. After a poor show consisting of 1 touchdown and a 28.7 QBR rating, Tua Tagovailoa took over the reins again for the next 13 starts. Not just that, in the 2023 season, he was the third-string quarterback for the Dolphins and was inactive for the first seven weeks. He became the backup for the remaining 10 weeks but did not play that season.

The 2024 season wasn’t much different. He played just three games with 1 start. But this season, he has displayed a different version of himself.

Add the overall context to the picture. Rodgers is running the show, DK Metcalf is adding to the arsenal, and the defense has been rebuilt for a deep push. The backup quarterback spot isn’t just filler with the 42-year-old Rodgers not being as mobile anymore. Indeed, it’s a role with real weight in a season where every piece has to matter. For one, Rodgers has brought that leadership voice to the locker room already.

Aaron Rodgers tells the OL to step up

The Steelers defense had already showcased why it’s called the Steel Curtain in Pittsburgh throughout their training and the preseason. The offensive line, however, is still quite young. And so, Rodgers has taken up the role he was brought in for– leadership. In true Rodgers fashion, he didn’t hesitate to turn teacher and tone-setter, calling out his offensive line after watching Skylar Thompson get knocked down on a hit that never should’ve happened during the early portion of the training camp.

“And one thing, one really important moment, Skylar got knocked down early in camp. And I walked out there like, ‘What the hell just happened?’ I looked back and nobody was walking out there. And I told the line, ‘Don’t you ever let that happen again.’ I said, ‘We gotta protect each other. And you guys are the policemen out there on the field. You’re the big brothers out there. You protect everybody from DK [Metcalf] to me to whoever’s in there (at) quarterback or whoever’s in there (at) running back. I don’t care if it’s preseason practice, whatever. You gotta protect them.'” Rodgers recalled on Cam Heyward’s Not Just Football podcast.

And they needed this. Way too many fans called this signing a bust. Sure, statistically, Rodgers is nowhere near what he used to be. But this is what he brings. A young OL needs a leader, and there’s no better candidate than Aaron Rodgers.

“When we’re going to take off as an offense is when those young guys start to figure it out and realize, ‘Oh, I can be a leader,'” Rodgers said. “That doesn’t mean I’ve got to step outside of myself personality-wise, but maybe just give a little bit more to this thing. I think it’s going to going to help us take off.”

And who knows that better than a 21-year veteran? Rodgers’ leadership alone cannot make a good offense. The young guys need to step up. When those guys tap into their power, this offense has the potential to be one of the best in the league. As for the QB position, we will soon find out if Rudolph learns bad news or Thompson gets to find a new home.