Asante Samuel Blasts Aaron Rodgers After Steelers' 20-3 Loss to Patriots

1 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 21

Samuel called Rodgers "terribly mediocre" after Pittsburgh's 20-3 Week 2 loss, saying the quarterback's accuracy and downfield passing looked far from his peak form.
Rodgers completed 23 of 39 passes overall, but New England's pressure exposed him most: he went 5 of 12 for 34 yards under pressure, took four sacks, and threw an interception against the blitz.
Two games into the 2026 season, Rodgers has completed just 33% of his passes under pressure and is averaging 3.5 yards per attempt in those situations, fueling concerns that age and rust are showing.
Pittsburgh still appears committed to Rodgers in what is described as his final NFL season, but the Steelers need better pass protection and a steadier run game before Week 3 against Cincinnati.