Steelers Get Aaron Rodgers Back But Will Miss Two Other Starters

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have quarterback Aaron Rodgers back for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Rodgers was cleared on Friday to play after missing last week's loss to the Chicago Bears because of a broken bone in his left (non-throwing) wrist.

"It's all systems go," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after Friday's practice.

However, the Steelers will be without two starters on Sunday. Offensive tackle Broderick Jones (neck) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) will miss the game after being injured in the loss to Chicago.

Calvin Anderson is likely to start in Jones' place. Anderson has been used as a blocking tight end this season, but has started just 14 times in six NFL seasons. The Steelers also have veteran lineman Andrus Peat, who has 114 starts in 11 seasons and one in his first year in Pittsburgh.

"Feel really comfortable with what Calvin has given us," Tomlin said. "He's been that guy that's a swing tackle for us, and he's shown really good capabilities in that area. But we're also extremely comfortable with Peat, and that's one of the reasons why we acquired Peat in the team-development process. There's a guy who has a resume that started wire-to-wire and came into this league as a first-rounder, so certainly he has a different profile than Calvin.

"We like both guys. Both guys are veteran professionals who have a certain level of preparedness and maturity they bring to work every day. And so, we're going to prepare both guys."

Harmon was the Steelers' first-round draft pick this year from Oregon. He has started five of nine games and has two sacks and one fumble recovery.

Fellow rookie Yahya Black, a fifth-round pick from Marshall, will start for Harmon. Black has made only one start in 11 games but had a fumble recovery last Sunday.

"Really encouraged by his growth," Tomlin said of Black. "I think his play time (against the Bears) was kind of reflective of that."

Brodric Martin-Rhodes could see his first action with the Steelers after being claimed off the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on Nov. 5. He played five games with the Detroit Lions the past two seasons and started once.

"We like our young D linemen, and we've acquired a new one in Brodric," Tomlin said. "Sometimes guys get an opportunity. One man's misfortune is another man's, or another man's opportunity. And so, we're encouraged by the depth that we have at that position. We can see who can execute detail, and I'm sure it'll be more than one person. It often is when we're talking about losing somebody that's starter-caliber."