Quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed last week’s Pittsburgh Steelers 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears due to a fracture in his left wrist. Mike Tomlin anticipates that last Sunday will be the only game Rodgers misses due to the injury. The Steelers coach told reporters on Tuesday that they aim for him to start for Sunday’s match against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

“We’ll start this week with great optimism although we will certainly limit him at the start of the week, provide opportunities for the other quarterbacks while preserving him,” Tomlin stated. “Again, we feel comfortable with the general trajectory, but I’ll keep you updated on his participation and the quality of his participation will be the greatest indicator over the week.”

Tomlin told CBS Sports’ Evan Washburn just before the last kickoff that Rodgers did everything within his power to position himself to start after suffering the injury during the preceding victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, but it was the “prudent play” to start Mason Rudolph.

“He fought his tail off throughout the week, but that’s the prudent play for us to make collectively,” Tomlin explained. “He won’t be playing this week. We’ll allow Mason to start, and he’s absorbed the majority of the practice reps this week.”

Rudolph completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards, including one touchdown and one interception, marking his first start of the season. The Steelers managed 345 total yards against the Bears’ 328, with 186 coming from the ground.

Regarding Rodgers’ potential return, the wrist injury concerns not just pain tolerance but his capability to protect himself on the field. The Steelers, currently at 6-5, relinquished a 3.5-game lead in the AFC North to the Baltimore Ravens, who stand also at 6-5.