The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to endure another game without their starting quarterback and former first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett, according to Adam Schefter.
Head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Mason Rudolph, originally the third-string quarterback, will make the start in the divisional matchup. Rudolph’s Christmas weekend start will be his first start in two seasons.
In an ESPN article, Rudolph outlines why he is prepared to make the start against the Cincinnati Bengals, who will be without star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
“I think as the third-string quarterback, you feel like, ‘Are you really earning your paycheck week to week?'” Rudolph said with a laugh. “And so I get to finally earn it this week and put my hand in the pile and go fight for a victory together.”
Pickett had one of his best games of the season the last time the Steelers took on the Bengals. Just a week removed from the firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, Pickett threw for a season-high 278 yards on a season-high 72.7% completion rate. He had no interceptions, and although he didn’t have a touchdown, there was a close call that came back.
WR Diontae Johnson thought he had a touchdown on the ball that came loose as he went out the back of the end zone. “Yeah, it is what it is. I had three feet down. I just have to hold onto the ball all the way down to the ground.”
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) November 26, 2023
The Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin are moving away from quarterback Mitch Trubisky
The Mitch Trubisky experiment is over for Tomlin and the Steelers as they officially decided to make Mason Rudolph the starter. Trubisky was originally the second-string quarterback for the Steelers, and filled in for Pickett after his injury in the early-December game against the Arizona Cardinals.
In four games with over 15 attempts this season, Trubisky has thrown for an average of 153.5 yards per game. In the same four games, he had a 63.2% completion rate with only one touchdown per game. Trubisky threw five interceptions in that time.
Outside of statistics, Trubisky made some crucial late-game decisions that garnered heavy criticism. The most notable blunder came on a late fourth down against one of the worst teams in the league in the New England Patriots. The Steelers only needed two yards to keep the late-game drive going, yet Trubisky launched an incomplete pass way down the field.
#Steelers need 2 yards on 4th down.
Mitch Trubisky: #steelersnation #HereWeGo #NFL pic.twitter.com/Ayn96wghXP
— Jeremy 🎯 (@sniperprops) December 17, 2023
The former Chicago Bears’ two interception game in a 30-13 loss against the Colts was the final straw for Tomlin.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph has the necessary experience within head coach Mike Tomlin’s system
Although his last start was two seasons ago, Rudolph has been with the Steelers since he went in the third round of the 2018 draft. Collectively, Rudolph has played just over a full season as the quarterback for the Steelers with 18 games played to be exact.
In that time, Rudolph threw for 2,369 yards and 16 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. His most productive season came in 2019, where he played in 10 games. His 1,765 yards passing and 13 to nine touchdown to interception ratio makes up the majority of his statistics as an NFL player.
In the aforementioned ESPN article, Rudolph relived the trials and tribulations he faced as a young quarterback in the NFL, sitting behind an NFL legend in Ben Roethlisberger.
“We’ve all had adversity no matter if you’re in the media or you play football, but I think I’ve had a fair share, and I think it’s made me better, and it’s made me a better person,” Rudolph said. “And I think about some of the things that happened in ’19 — and it was quite a lot — but I’m grateful for that. I think it’s made me a better man and a better leader. And it makes you more battle-tested.”
The only time Rudolph saw the field this season was when Tomlin pulled Trubisky late in last weeks Colts game. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson had only good things to say about Rudolph in the same article.
“He brings that grit that you’re looking for, that he’s not going to give up,” Johnson said. “He’s going to come in and do his job at 100 percent. I have full confidence in Mason that he’s going to come in and do his job and get everybody the ball. It is our job on the outside to just rally around them.”
Rudolph looks to come back strong while facing a team that allowed over 400 yards to the Steelers offense just a few weeks ago. The Bengals defense also allowed over 300 yards passing to third-string Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens just last week.
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