Souhan: Vikings finally spending time with Aaron Rodgers

DUBLIN — This is an awkward time for the Vikings to run into Aaron Rodgers.

Even if “run into Aaron Rodgers” is the best strategy for winning this game.

The Vikings will play the Steelers in Dublin on Sunday, providing a pointed reminder of both teams’ search for a true franchise quarterback.

The Steelers signed Rodgers because they had no other options.

The Vikings reportedly considered adding Rodgers to a built-to-win-now roster before installing J.J. McCarthy, a 22-year-old starting quarterback who missed his entire rookie season because of a knee injury.

The Steelers and Vikings are proud, long-running franchises sharing the same affliction.

The Steelers haven’t found a quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season.

Now that this game has arrived, let’s revisit the most obvious and important questions regarding these teams:

Should the Steelers have left themselves with no option other than Rodgers?

Should the Vikings have signed Rodgers?

By failing to give themselves another option, the Steelers allowed Rodgers to immerse himself in his favorite offseason hobby — turning his decision-making process into a badly-produced drama.

He finally signed with the Steelers — because they had no other option and he had no other palatable option — on June 5.

The Vikings are 2-1 despite seeing McCarthy struggle for seven of his first eight NFL quarters, and turning to Carson Wentz, who was out of football until late August.

To summarize: The Steelers were desperate and landed a future Hall of Famer. The Vikings had a plan in place to draft, develop and start their future franchise quarterback, and wound up signing someone who was unemployed.

So … should the Vikings have signed Rodgers? Will the Steelers, by the end of the season, prove to have made the right decision?

I doubt it.

Watching Rodgers the first three weeks, you see his patented accuracy and quick decisionmaking. You also see someone who will turn 42 on Dec. 2 looking like he no longer tolerates physical contact.

In the past two games, he has thrown three touchdowns and three interceptions.

The best defense he has faced, belonging to Seattle, intercepted him twice and allowed him to complete just 55% of his passes and produce 17 points at home.

The Vikings should be able to hassle Rodgers similarly.

Usually, Brian Flores’ defenses feast on inexperienced quarterbacks. Sunday, the Vikings defensive coordinator will try to take advantage of Rodgers’ age and fragility.

Last year in London, Rodgers started for the Jets against the Vikings and tried to pass his team to victory. He threw 54 passes, producing 244 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions and getting sacked three times.

The Steelers left on Thursday.

“I wish, you know, it is what it is, but if the schedule had been a little different, if I could have chosen, maybe we get over on Monday, Tuesday is an off day, get to go out, see some things,” Rodgers said.

Counterpoint: Rodgers has made enough money that he could charter a jet any time in the offseason and rent a mansion if he wants to visit Dublin.

Rodgers is a headache in a helmet.

I believe by the end of the season, the Vikings will be glad they didn’t sign him.