Aaron Rodgers Exits Early; Steelers Lead 10-6 at Halftime

Bassyonni

ago 3 hours

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals faced off in a tense battle on the gridiron. Both teams initially scored on their opening possessions, setting the stage for a competitive matchup. However, the remainder of the first half saw minimal scoring, ending with Pittsburgh leading 10-6 at halftime.

Aaron Rodgers Exits Early

A key storyline emerged when Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers exited the game early, heading to the locker room just before halftime. Rodgers appeared to be favoring his left wrist after enduring multiple hits. This development raises concerns about the quarterback’s health going forward.

Game Progression

The Steelers took an early lead thanks to a touchdown pass from Rodgers to running back Kenneth Gainwell. This 11-yard completion put Pittsburgh up 7-0. The Bengals quickly responded, completing a 71-yard drive culminating in a touchdown from Joe Flacco to Tee Higgins.

Steelers Touchdown: Kenneth Gainwell, 11-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers
Bengals Touchdown: Tee Higgins, 28-yard pass from Joe Flacco

Cincinnati attempted to capitalize on a penalty by Pittsburgh after their touchdown. Choosing to go for a two-point conversion, they were denied as Chase Brown was stopped short. This left the score at 7-6 in favor of the Steelers.

Second Quarter Highlights

The second quarter remained quiet in terms of scoring opportunities until late in the half. Pittsburgh benefited from defensive penalties committed by Cincinnati, moving the ball down the field effectively. A highlight came when Darnell Washington made a notable 31-yard catch and run.

As time ran out in the half, Chris Boswell converted a 25-yard field goal, extending the Steelers’ lead to four points, making the score 10-6.

Injury Updates

In addition to Rodgers’ injury, the Steelers faced more challenges when receiver and returner Ke’Shawn Williams was ruled out due to a concussion. Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt exited the game late in the second quarter, aided by trainers, further complicating Cincinnati’s defensive strategy. Additionally, Cam Sample had to leave for the locker room during the same period.