Rodgers is leaning into his final year, except when it comes to playing in the preseason

LATROBE, Pa. — There was a time when the preseason felt like the Super Bowl to Aaron Rodgers.

Now is not that time.

While the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is trying to soak in every moment of what he says will be his 22nd and final NFL training camp, he doesn’t sound like someone who thinks he needs to be on the field when the Steelers host Green Bay in their exhibition opener on Thursday night.

“It’s not real football,” Rodgers said.

At least, not “real” compared to what things will look like when the games start to count in September. Most defenses are vanilla. Most offenses too. The four-time MVP understands August is still a valuable time of year, just not for someone who has been in the league nearly as long as some of his teammates — backup quarterbacks Drew Allar (22) and Will Howard (24) — have been alive.

“I think preseason football is good to see guys with pads on, under the lights, how they react to the nerves,” he said.

Nerves that Rodgers once had himself. He remembers running onto the field as a rookie with Green Bay in 2005 and trying desperately to keep his breathing under control. He failed as much as he succeeded.

Those jitters eventually subsided. It took a while, but they’re long since gone. It’s why he feels the Steelers will be better served with Rodgers watching from the sideline with a headset on while his understudies do the majority of the work.

Rodgers described the first preseason game as traditionally “hectic,” one of many reasons his preference is to be in sweatpants offering perspective.

“I like to be the voice of reason, tell the occasional dad joke or one-liner,” he said. “Just help everybody settle in a little bit.”

Rodgers said the real growth during camp comes on the practice field. He likes what he’s seen so far, which is part of why he’s just fine letting others get chased around by opponents during the waning days of summer.

“I think we’re right where I’d like to be,” he said. “I think we’re ahead of where we were last year. I think you’re seeing guys take some steps and then play with confidence.”