Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, center, puts on his helmet while participating in a team OTA workout in Pittsburgh on Monday. (AP photo)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers has spent two-plus decades keeping everyone off balance.

From opponents to teammates to reporters and everyone in between.

The start of his 22nd season was no different.

The 42-year-old four-time NFL MVP made a surprise appearance on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice field Monday for the start of voluntary organized team activities, jogging out in a white No. 8 jersey shortly after finalizing a one-year deal to return to the club he guided to an AFC North championship last winter.

Linebacker Payton Wilson admitted he was a little “shocked” when he ran into Rodgers outside the team’s facility. Wilson called it “awesome” to have Rodgers back while only somewhat jokingly admitting his presence will make it “a lot harder” on the defense during OTA drills designed to be more of a refresher than a true test.

Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., acquired in an offseason trade with Indianapolis, worked out with Rodgers once while Rodgers was still weighing his options. Pittman hoped Rodgers would run it back one more time, but knew better than to get ahead of himself.

“I had a good feeling about it, but you never know,” Pittman said. “I mean, Aaron’s gonna do what Aaron wants to do, right?”

Asked if his throwing session with the future Hall of Famer tipped the scales for Rodgers to come back, Pittman laughed.

“I’d like to say yes, but probably not,” he said, later adding, “Hopefully it had some little effect on him.”

Who knows? Rodgers remains, as always, a bit of an enigma who keeps his cards very close to the vest.

“He’s a mysterious guy,” outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said.

Rodgers said near the end of last season he would decide in “due course” while cagily not hinting at any sort of deadline. The Steelers expressed optimism that he would reach a decision before the start of free agency, then kept moving the goalposts back as the weeks came and went without Rodgers offering any firm answer one way or the other.

The lines of communication remained open during the process, with first-year Steelers coach Mike McCarthy — who spent more than a decade alongside Rodgers in Green Bay, winning a Super Bowl in the process — making it clear to Rodgers that he was open to a reunion in Pittsburgh.

Rodgers returned to western Pennsylvania recently and was spotted grabbing some ice cream with several Steelers at a popular shop in the northern suburbs last Friday. Months of “will he or won’t he” speculation on social media, sports talk radio, and just about everywhere else finally ended with the news on Saturday evening that caught most of the guys he shares the locker room with off guard.

Offensive tackle Troy Fautanu found out on Instagram. Pittman saw it while scanning X.

“He never told me anything,” Pittman said with a laugh.

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