So, you're checking in on Aaron Rodgers. Honestly, it's the question that won't go away. Is Aaron Rodgers injured? If you’re looking at the ticker today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, the answer isn't about a fresh snap or a cart coming onto the field. It’s about the cumulative "wear and tear" of 21 seasons and a postseason exit that felt like a definitive period at the end of a long sentence.
Rodgers just finished a season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah, if you missed that chapter, it happened. He signed a one-year deal for 2025, and for the most part, he stayed remarkably upright.
But "upright" for a 42-year-old in the NFL is a relative term.
The Current Status: Is He Actually Hurt Right Now?
Physically, Rodgers is currently recovering from the typical post-playoff soreness, but there is one specific injury that dogged him late in this 2025-2026 campaign. Back in late November, he suffered a fractured left wrist (his non-throwing hand) during a rough loss to the Chicago Bears. He actually had to sit out a game for that one.
He came back, though. He played through the pain, joked about feeling like "Benjamin Button" in reverse, and led the Steelers to an AFC North title. But then came the Wild Card round against the Houston Texans.
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The Steelers got rolled 30-6. Rodgers looked every bit of 42. He threw a pick-six to end the game, and while he didn't leave with a "new" injury like a torn ligament or a broken bone, the way he walked off that field told a story. He looked spent. Exhausted.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport dropped the hammer just yesterday, reporting that Rodgers is not expected to return to the Steelers for the 2026 season. This comes right on the heels of head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down. Rodgers basically went to Pittsburgh to play for Tomlin. No Tomlin? No Rodgers.
A Career Built on "Playing Through It"
To understand if he's "injured" now, you sort of have to look at the wreckage he’s left behind over two decades. It’s a lot.
Most people remember the New York Jets disaster. Four plays. That’s all it took in 2023 for his left Achilles to pop. It was a "Where were you?" moment for NFL fans. He spent all of 2024 trying to make that Jets marriage work, but between a 5-12 record and a lingering hamstring issue that Jeff Ulbrich (the interim coach at the time) had to manage, it was a mess.
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Check out this quick list of what his body has actually endured:
- 2006: Broken left foot (happened while filling in for Brett Favre).
- 2013: Broken left collarbone (missed seven games).
- 2017: Broken right collarbone (this one required surgery and plates).
- 2018: A tibial plateau fracture and sprained MCL. He played through this, which is still insane.
- 2022: Broken thumb on his throwing hand.
- 2023: The infamous torn Achilles.
- 2025: The fractured left wrist in Pittsburgh.
He’s basically a walking medical textbook. When people ask "is Aaron Rodgers injured," they’re usually sensing that his mobility isn't what it used to be. In Pittsburgh, he managed 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns. Respectable? Sure. But he only rushed for 61 yards all year. The escapability is gone.
The Retirement Crossroads
Right now, the "injury" is more existential. He’s a free agent come March.
He’s 42. He’s mentioned before that 2025 was likely his "last dance." While he softened that stance in December, saying he might have "one or two" options left in free agency, the vibe has shifted since Tomlin left. Tom Brady even weighed in this week, telling Colin Cowherd that the decision comes down to whether Aaron wants to commit to the year-round grind again.
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Rodgers was reportedly in tears in the locker room after the Texans loss when Tomlin told the team he was done. If your heart isn't in the rebuild, and your body has more metal in it than a hardware store, do you really lace them up for a 22nd season?
What to Watch For Next
The "injury report" for Aaron Rodgers has moved from the training room to the front office. Here is what is actually happening in the next few weeks:
- The Darkness Retreat (or whatever's next): Rodgers usually goes quiet in February. Expect total radio silence while he weighs if his arm—which still flashes elite strength—is worth the risk of another major surgery.
- Free Agency Market: If he doesn't retire, he won't be back in Pittsburgh. Keep an eye on teams that are "one quarterback away" but have a veteran-friendly offensive line. If he can't be protected, he won't play.
- The "Packer For A Day" Retirement: Rodgers has already stated he will officially retire as a Green Bay Packer. If an announcement comes, it’ll likely be a joint press conference at Lambeau Field.
The reality? Aaron Rodgers isn't "injured" in the sense that he's in a cast today. He's just a 42-year-old man who has been hit by 300-pound linemen for half his life. The "injury" is simply time catching up.
Actionable Insight for Fans and Fantasy Managers:
If you are holding onto Rodgers in a dynasty league or expecting him to be a savior for your team in 2026, stop. The insiders are aligned: the Pittsburgh chapter is over. Transition your focus to the 2026 NFL Draft (which coincidentally is being held in Pittsburgh) as the team looks for a long-term replacement for the void Rodgers is leaving behind.