(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers and his broken left wrist could play on Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Buffalo Bills.

The 41-year-old Rodgers practiced in a limited capacity last week, but ended up watching Pittsburgh’s 31-28 loss to Chicago from the sideline in sweatpants after Steelers coach Mike Tomlin decided to make Rodgers inactive and start Mason Rudolph instead.

Tomlin called the decision to sit the four-time MVP a “prudent” one but declined to get into specifics. There seems to be a far greater chance of Rodgers returning when Pittsburgh (6-5) tries to snap out of a midseason funk against the Bills (7-4) in a game that could have serious playoff implications for both teams.

“We’re comfortable with the general trajectory (of Rodgers),” Tomlin said.

Tomlin made the final call to sit Rodgers against Chicago on Saturday. He isn’t sure if he will keep the window open a little longer this time around.

Whichever player is at quarterback will have a new face protecting his blindside. Left tackle Broderick Jones will sit out with a neck injury sustained late in the fourth quarter against Chicago when Bears defensive lineman Dominique Robinson jumped and appeared to grab Jones’ head.

Calvin Anderson filled in during the game and would be in line to make his first start with the Steelers, who have dropped four of six to drop into a tie with Baltimore atop the AFC North. Pittsburgh also has veteran Andrus Peat available.

Rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who has been effective as part of a rotation that includes fellow rookie Yahya Black, will also sit out with a knee injury. Tomlin said the injury is not related to the one that Harmon suffered at the end of training camp and caused him to miss Pittsburgh’s first two games.

Black could see an uptick in playing time. The Steelers also have Brodric Martin-Rhodes available.

Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith could also be back after missing two games with a pectoral injury. Highsmith also sat out two games earlier this season with an ankle injury.

Pittsburgh’s defense, whichever players are out there, will have to find a way to keep Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen in check in a game that could carry significant postseason implications. There are currently seven teams in the AFC at 7-4 or 6-5.

Allen has toyed with the Steelers through the years. He is 4-1 against Pittsburgh in his career, with the past three victories all by at least 11 points. He will face a defense that is uncharacteristically ranked near the bottom of the league in yards and points against, symbolic of the club’s wildly uneven season.

Asked why consistency has been an issue, the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach shrugged.

“You know, I think oftentimes your record reflects that,” he said. “You know if we were sitting here at 9-2, we’d probably be having less of the discussion at 6-5. I think 6-5 in general speaks to that.”

(Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Posted on Facebook on November 25th, 2025)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was recently named as a semi-finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is the tenth time that Ward became a semi-finalist to get into the museum located in Canton, Ohio, and he becomes one of twenty-six players to be considered for its Class of 2026. Ward, who is a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers, made the cut for this honor and three fellow Steelers players, kicker Gary Anderson, linebacker James Harrison and center Maurkice Pouncey did not make it to the semifinals for next year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The selection committee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will reduce this list of twenty-six semi-finalists below to fifteen later this year:

• Willie Anderson, T (Bengals, Ravens)
• Drew Brees, QB (Chargers, Saints)
• Lomas Brown, T (Lions, Cardinals, Browns, Giants, Buccaneers)
• Jahri Evans, G (Saints, Packers)
• Larry Fitzgerald, WR (Cardinals)
• Frank Gore, RB (49ers, Colts, Dolphins, Bills, Jets)
• Rodney Harrison, S (Chargers, Patriots)
• Torry Holt, WR (Rams, Jaguars)
• Luke Kuechly, LB (Panthers)
• Eli Manning, QB (Giants)
• Robert Mathis, DE/LB (Colts)
• Philip Rivers, QB (Chargers, Colts)
• Steve Smith Sr., WR (Panthers, Ravens)
• Terrell Suggs, LB/DE (Ravens, Cardinals, Chiefs)
• Fred Taylor, RB (Jaguars, Patriots)
• Earl Thomas, DB (Seahawks, Ravens)
• Adam Vinatieri, K (Patriots, Colts)
• Hines Ward, WR (Steelers)
• Reggie Wayne, WR (Colts)
• Richmond Webb, T (Dolphins, Bengals)
• Vince Wilfork, DT (Patriots, Texans)
• Kevin Williams, DT (Vikings, Seahawks, Saints)
• Steve Wisniewski, G (Raiders)
• Jason Witten, TE (Cowboys, Raiders)
• Darren Woodson, S (Cowboys)
• Marshal Yanda, G/T (Ravens)

(Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Posted on Facebook on November 23rd, 2025)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Tulsa, OK) The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC won the 2025 United Soccer League Championship by defeating Tulsa FC at ONEOK Field in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday in a penalty shootout 5-3 after the game ended in a 0-0 draw and both regulation and extra time ended. This is the first time the Riverhounds have won the USL title in their twenty-six-year history of their soccer club. The Most Valuable Performer of the game was the Riverhounds’ goalkeeper Eric Dick, who had five saves, as well as another save in the penalty shootout, and his five saves lead to his sixteenth shutout of the season and his thirtieth as a member of the Riverhounds, which are both team records. 

(File Photo of an Aliquippa Quips Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa defeated Oil City 28-6 at Slippery Rock University on Friday in the high school football PIAA 4A quarterfinals, and they will now move on to the PIAA 4A semifinals to play against Twin Valley. The game between Aliquippa and Twin Valley will take place on Friday night at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania at 7 p.m. Aliquippa won the 2025 WPIAL 4A championship on November 15th, 2025 by defeating McKeesport 21-12 at Pine Richland High School and the Quips are going for their sixth PIAA state championship. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) holds his arm after a hit by the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

CHICAGO (AP) — Aaron Rodgers once famously turned to the crowd at Soldier Field and screamed that he still owns the Bears. No one would have argued back then.

Rodgers would love a chance to show it’s still true, though it’s not clear if he’ll get the opportunity when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Chicago on Sunday.

The four-time MVP broke his left wrist in last week’s 32-14 win over Cincinnati, throwing his status for what could be his final game against the franchise he has tortured into question.

Rodgers was optimistic but far from certain that he would be able to play through the injury to his nonthrowing hand. It depends on if he feels he can protect himself and handle the ball the way he normally does.

Either way, Rodgers said this week he hopes Bears fans can let “bygones be bygones.” And, with a laugh, he added: “Maybe, I can, I guess.”

Rodgers, as he has done in the past, praised Chicago. He mentioned growing up a fan of Michael Jordan and the Bulls and watching Cubs games on WGN.

“They got great sports, man,” he said.

Rodgers is 25-5 against Chicago, counting the playoffs. If he is unavailable, the AFC North-leading Steelers (6-4) will go with Mason Rudolph. The veteran returned to Pittsburgh for a second stint when he signed a two-year deal in March and came through after Rodgers exited last week. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, helping the Steelers win for the second time in three games and keep a tenuous grip on first place ahead of Baltimore.

Narrow escapes

The NFC North-leading Bears (7-3) have won seven of eight and lead Green Bay (6-3-1) by the slimmest of margins. They have five wins this season after trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, including the past three games.

They squeezed out a 19-17 victory at Minnesota last week when Devin Duvernay returned a kickoff 56 yards to set up a 48-yard field goal by Cairo Santos as time expired. The Vikings had scored a touchdown with 50 seconds remaining.

“I think we feel good with where we’re at,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “But you also do understand that things can turn. We have a whole season left basically with seven games left. And so, things can still turn fast in those ways.”

Monitoring a ‘Magician’

The Steelers are well-versed in the problems created by a team whose quarterback likes to move around. They can thank years and years of chasing Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson.

Williams, however, presents a different challenge. Where Jackson typically takes off the second he tucks the ball under his arm, the slippery Williams is more likely to scramble around in the backfield while hoping something develops downfield.

“He’s kind of like a little magician back there, being able to get out of tough jams and (he’s) got a hell of an arm,” Steelers inside linebacker Patrick Queen said. “So you definitely got to respect the guy. Even with him being young, he’s been playing at a high level.”

The Steelers can try to take solace in this: they’re 5-4 against Jackson, one of the few teams the two-time MVP has a losing record against.

Pick it

A two-time All-Pro, Bears safety Kevin Byard was no stranger to picking off passes. He just hadn’t done it as much as he would have liked the past few seasons.

Byard is making up for it with a league-leading five interceptions after combining for two the previous two years with Tennessee, Philadelphia and Chicago. He had one last year in his first season with the Bears.

“I just think it’s the (opportunities),” said Byard, who has 34 interceptions in 10 seasons. “Honestly, even last year. I feel like I dropped two. I felt like I should have had multi-interceptions last year as well.”

With Nahshon Wright and Tremaine Edmunds tied for second with Jacksonville’s Devin Lloyd with four, the Bears have three of the NFL’s top four leaders in interceptions.

‘Kenny G’ hits the right notes

The Steelers signed running back Jaylen Warren to a modest extension before the season began, and while the former undrafted rookie free agent has been effective with the ball in his hands, he’s also been knocked around a bit.

Enter Kenneth Gainwell. The former Philadelphia Eagle began the season as a complementary piece but has shown a couple of things that Warren has not. He’s been durable, and he’s figured out a way to get to the end zone.

Gainwell had 105 total yards last week against the Bengals and caught two touchdown passes. The Steelers opted to roll with him late even though doctors had cleared Warren to return after tweaking his right knee in the third quarter.

One-sided

Though Rodgers has dominated Chicago, the Bears have done the same against the Steelers.

They lead the series 22-8-1 and are 14-1 at home, including a pair of wins over the combined 1943 Philadelphia-Pittsburgh and 1944 Chicago Cardinals-Pittsburgh teams. The Steelers’ lone victory in Chicago was in 1995. Pittsburgh’s record against the Bears is the franchise’s worst against any NFL team still in existence.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jack Suwinski (65) celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a source, the Pittsburgh Pirates and outfielder Jack Suwinski have recently agreed to a contract of one year which is worth $1.25 million and the Buccos and right-handed reliever pitcher Yohan Ramírez have recently agreed to a contract of one year worth $825,000. These contracts will make both Suwinski and Ramírez avoid arbitration to stay on the Pirates roster.

(Photo of Geneva College Head Football Coach Geno DeMarco Courtesy of Amanda Paulovich Photography)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) Geneva College head football coach Geno DeMarco, the longest tenured college football coach at any level, was recently honored as the 2025 Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Coach of the Year after leading the 6-4 Golden Tornadoes to the postseason for the first time since 2009. Tomorrow’s bowl game for Geneva against SUNY Brockport of Brockport, New York in Rochester, New York at noon will be the final game for DeMarco in his 33rd season. Twelve Golden Tornadoes were also recently named All-PAC selections, which is the second most since Geneva joined the PAC in 2011.