Aaron Rodgers attends Steelers OTA; Herbert absent

Aaron Rodgers was on the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first organized team activity session on May 18, days after agreeing to a one-year deal with the club. Justin Herbert, by contrast, was not present for multiple Los Angeles Chargers voluntary offseason practices open to reporters during Phase 2 of the program, according to reports cited by the Boston Globe on May 23. The contrast landed during the NFL’s voluntary spring calendar, when attendance is often parsed for clues about health, contracts and locker-room tone. The Globe said Rodgers’ presence and Herbert’s absence became part of a broader quarterback attendance storyline across the league. The NFL’s offseason rules also shape the context. OTA work is voluntary, and teams are still weeks away from mandatory minicamp. ### When did Rodgers actually show up in Pittsburgh? May 18 was Rodgers’ first OTA appearance with Pittsburgh after his contract agreement, according to multiple reports from that day. Local and national coverage showed Rodgers practicing at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex and throwing during team drills. The Steelers’ attendance mattered because Rodgers had only recently resolved his status for 2026. The Boston Globe said he “show[ed] up and participate[d],” making him one of the veteran quarterbacks who chose to be on the field during a non-mandatory stretch. ### What is known about Herbert’s absence? Justin Herbert missed at least two Chargers voluntary Phase 2 practices open to the media, including a May 20 session, according to reports from The Athletic cited by other outlets and summarized by the Boston Globe. Chargers Wire also reported on May 19 that Herbert had not been present at either of the voluntary practices open to reporters. The Chargers’ offseason work remains voluntary at this stage. That means Herbert’s absence did not violate any club requirement, but it still drew attention because franchise quarterbacks are often treated as tone-setters during spring work. ### Why did the Boston Globe connect this to contracts and leverage? The Boston Globe’s May 23 report framed quarterback attendance as a league-wide story line and said Herbert’s absence could prompt questions about a possible contract issue. The report did not say a dispute had been confirmed, only that the optics invite that kind of speculation in a voluntary period. Aaron Rodgers’ case was presented differently. The Globe linked his attendance to leadership and buy-in themes that often surround veteran quarterbacks when teams begin spring installations. ### How much should anyone read into voluntary OTAs? The NFL announced offseason workout dates for all 32 teams last month, and the league’s spring program separates voluntary work from later mandatory reporting dates. In practice, that means attendance can be notable without being dispositive. Indianapolis coverage from Sports Illustrated and other team-site reporting around the league has made the same point this week: OTA observations can indicate who is present, who is rehabbing and who is getting early reps, but they do not settle depth charts or contract questions by themselves. ### What’s next on the calendar? The Washington Commanders said their OTA offseason workouts are scheduled for May 27-29, June 2-4 and June 9-11 at the team facility in Ashburn, Virginia. The club’s mandatory minicamp is set for June 16-18. Around the league, more veteran attendance questions will be answered as additional teams open OTA sessions to reporters over the next two weeks. For Pittsburgh, the next checkpoints are continued Rodgers participation and the quarterback rotation behind him. For Los Angeles, the next clear marker is whether Herbert appears before the Chargers move from voluntary work toward minicamp.