Steelers turn to Mason Rudolph; ‘door ajar’ for Kenny Pickett

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers, losers of three straight video games, are turning to quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Although coach Mike Tomlin stopped wanting definitively naming Rudolph the starter for Saturday’s pivotal division sport in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, he mentioned Rudolph “is the man with the ball.”

“It is our intention as we sit right here right now to offer Mason Rudolph a chance to begin,” Tomlin mentioned in his weekly information convention. “He is a veteran man. He is a backup however he is additionally a veteran man. He is been in our program a very long time. He is right here for these causes. We bought an excessive amount of consolation with him.”

Tomlin additionally added he isn’t ruling out quarterback Kenny Pickett, who had “TightRope” surgical procedure for a excessive ankle sprain on Dec. 4, for Saturday’s sport.

“He had a very good rehab right now,” Tomlin mentioned of Pickett. “His availability is just not out of query this week, however on the entrance a part of the week our consideration and emphasis will probably be on Mason Rudolph, and we’ll depart the door ajar and see how Kenny responds to the work that he did right now and the restricted work that we’re most likely going to offer him tomorrow.”

Only a week earlier, Tomlin deflected the concept of Rudolph getting a chance to begin, saying the atmosphere wasn’t acceptable to “open up competitors” for the beginning quarterback job as a result of Rudolph “hadn’t had numerous publicity by way of in-helmet prep.”

However Tomlin modified his tune Monday after Mitch Trubisky threw two interceptions and the offense put up a season-low 216 yards within the 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Trubisky, who was signed to an extension within the offseason, was benched for Rudolph after throwing his second interception with six minutes remaining within the fourth quarter. Rudolph performed six snaps of rubbish time, finishing 2 of three makes an attempt for 3 yards.

“Not dumping the result of the sport at Mitch’s toes,” Tomlin mentioned. “I am not saying that, however I’m saying the man [at] that place is on the controls and does have an enormous say in how some issues unfold. It is extra about actually Mason Rudolph being deserving of a chance and us making an attempt to vary the trajectory of what is been transpiring.”

What’s been transpiring is the Steelers’ playoff possibilities evaporating with three consecutive losses. In these losses, the Steelers are averaging 13.7 factors per sport. Since firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada following the 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 11, the Steelers have scored greater than 16 factors simply as soon as — 18 within the loss to the New England Patriots in Week 14.

In two video games with Trubisky beginning instead of Pickett, the Steelers are averaging 240 yards of offense, a decline from their season common of 287.1, which ranks twenty seventh within the NFL. Trubisky has thrown three interceptions to 2 touchdowns in his begins this season and has a QBR of 33.4, second worst of his profession behind 33.3 in his rookie season with the Chicago Bears. By comparability, Pickett’s QBR is 38.2, rating twenty fifth amongst 29 certified quarterbacks.

“Why are we making the change, man? We do not like what we’re and the consistency of it,” Tomlin mentioned in explaining the choice. “What I imply is we’re not scoring sufficient factors. Significantly as you progress into December soccer, man, you bought to attain greater than 12, 14, 16 factors in video games this time of 12 months. You higher assume that others are doing the identical.

“The engineering of victory is just not going to be fluid for those who’re not doing these issues, and clearly by nature of the place, the man that has the ball, quarterback place, that is a catalyst for change and alternative. And so, we wish to give [Rudolph] some snaps from a preparation standpoint, some in-helmet perspective.

Rudolph, who did not see any sport motion in 2022, bought his final begin in a tie in opposition to the Detroit Lions in Week 10 of the 2021 season when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was positioned on the COVID-19 checklist the evening earlier than the sport.

Rudolph accomplished 30 of fifty makes an attempt for 242 yards and had one landing and one interception. He additionally tried eight passes in rubbish time to conclude the 36-10 Week 16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that season.

Rudolph bought the majority of his expertise in 2019 following Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow damage. Splitting time with fellow backup Devlin “Duck” Hodges, Rudolph began eight video games that season and accomplished 62.2% of his makes an attempt for 1,765 yards, 13 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

“Rudolph, he is been part of our program,” Tomlin mentioned. “He is aware of us, we all know him. He is tough-minded. He is bought numerous confidence in himself. He is a competitor. These are a number of the issues which can be actually engaging about giving him a chance this week.”

For the reason that Steelers signed Trubisky throughout free company in 2022, Rudolph has solely been lively for 3 video games. But, Tomlin expressed confidence within the quarterback, whom the Steelers chosen within the third spherical of the 2018 draft.

“He is simply good underneath powerful circumstances, man,” Tomlin mentioned. “He’s a competitor. He believes in himself. He is a calculated risk-taker. I imagine that that mentality is useful to us underneath these circumstances.”