Aaron Rodgers takes part in 1st workout with Steelers as minicamp begins

For the second year in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers opened minicamp with a Super Bowl-winning, future Hall of Fame quarterback wearing a black-and-gold uniform.

This year, it is Aaron Rodgers, who worked out with his new team for the first time Tuesday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to kick off the Steelers’ mandatory three-day minicamp.

Last year, the quarterback was Russell Wilson. He was not re-signed as the Steelers courted Rodgers, who did not sign his one-year contract until Saturday. At 41, Rodgers is five years older than Wilson.

Rodgers wore No. 8, getting the uniform number that previously belonged to punter Corliss Waitman, who switched to No. 3, Wilson’s old number. He also got a corner locker stall that belonged to Wilson last year and previously was used by another prominent quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

“It’s been a new guy every year there for me,” said tight end Pat Freiermuth, whose locker is situated next to Rodgers. “I’m excited to get to know him and work with him.”

Rodgers addressed the team in a meeting before practice and said he is “all in,” according to center Zach Frazier.

“The sky is the limit,” Frazier said. “The goal is to put up a lot of points every game, and that’s what we’re here to do.”

Rookie Will Howard met Rodgers for the first time Monday as the sixth-round draft pick was exiting the locker room and the 21-year veteran was entering.

“He’s a super down-to-earth guy,” Howard said. “You think he’s this big-time, famous guy. Everybody knows Aaron Rodgers, but he was down to earth, not at all what you would expect.”

Rodgers also made an initial favorable impression on Mason Rudolph, who goes from being the No. 1 quarterback in workouts to the backup with the four-time NFL MVP on board.

“He’s been very inquisitive about the offense and very friendly,” Rudolph said. “The kind of person he is, as successful and highly compensated as he is, you don’t have to be friendly and talkative with young guys, and he is.”

Although he met with the Steelers on March 21, Rodgers did not sign until the conclusion of voluntary spring workouts, and he will join a quarterback group that includes Rudolph, veteran Skylar Thompson and Howard.

“I’m excited to pick his brain and see what he’s like at the line of scrimmage and in the meeting room and how he sees things,” Howard said. “I’m excited to get to work with him.”

Rodgers’ arrival was greeted by a horde of media and cameras, with a handful of national reporters showing up to watch his initial workout. The vibe felt different in the locker room before practice, too.

“You’d be lying if you said it didn’t feel different,” linebacker Nick Herbig said. “I love Mason, Will and Skylar, but it’s Aaron Rodgers, a four-time MVP. He won a Super Bowl.”

Although Rodgers missed all the voluntary spring workouts, his new teammates don’t believe that will hinder how quickly he can learn the Steelers playbook and build a rapport with his playmakers.

“There is more than enough time,” Freiermuth said. “He’s been in the league 20-plus years. He has a way of doing things. It’s more about us getting caught up and him getting caught up with what we’re doing as an offense. There’s a lot of time until September to do that and build that chemistry.”

Added wide receiver Calvin Austin III: “You can’t get any of that back. All you can do is maximize the time we have now, and I think we’re definitely going to do that.”

After the conclusion of minicamp, the Steelers will have approximately a six-week break until the start of training camp in Unity Township.

“I’m sure he’ll want to work out with us and get to know us more,” Freiermuth said. “The skill position guys can get together. I’m looking forward to that.”

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was looking forward to not having to diagram a scheme designed to stop Rodgers. The Steelers held Rodgers in check last season, with rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop intercepting him twice in a 37-15 victory against the New York Jets in October. Rodgers spent two seasons in New York after leaving the Green Bay Packers following 18 seasons.

“He’s a pain in the (rear),” Austin said. “He can get rid of the ball quickly if you’re bringing pressure. He knows if you’re not bringing pressure, he can hold it and wait for some things to develop. Really sharp.”

When Austin spent the 2014-17 seasons in Detroit as defensive coordinator, he was tasked with scheming against Rodgers twice a season.

“Always a challenge,” he said. “A great player. He can spin the ball, he can get it, he knows who to get it to. He always presents a challenge that way.”

Austin believes Rodgers, even at 41, still has the arm strength to win in the NFL.

“The only thing that has probably changed is he’s not running as much in terms of trying to get away,” he said. “I don’t see any dropoff in terms of accuracy, in terms of ball speed, in terms of how he spins it.”