As groups put together to unveil their 53-man rosters, there are a number of groups that would really like Mason Rudolph to be a part of that equation. The Steelers have obtained commerce requires Rudolph, however have been reluctant to deal him at this level, based on NFL Media.
The longest-tenured of the Steelers quarterbacks, Rudolph was 26 of 39 for 220 yards with two touchdowns this preseason whereas taking part in with Pittsburgh’s second- and third-team offenses. The fifth-year veteran and former third-round choose owns a 5-4-1 regular-season document as Pittsburgh’s beginning quarterback. He began the summer season because the Steelers’ No. 2 quarterback behind Mitchell Trubisky however has since moved behind rookie Kenny Pickett within the pecking order.
Whereas the Steelers’ quarterback competitors was billed as a three-man race, it seems that the job was Trubisky’s to lose after Pittsburgh inked him to a two-year deal at first of free company. Rudolph’s odds at being Ben Roethlisberger’s alternative dropped additional after the staff chosen Pickett with the twentieth general choose in April’s draft.
Rudolph obtained little work with Pittsburgh’s first-team offense through the last phases of coaching camp. He relieved Trubisky within the Steelers’ first preseason sport (throwing a landing go to rookie George Pickens on his third play from scrimmage), then performed behind each Trubisky and Pickett towards the Jaguars. Rudolph tried simply three passes in Pittsburgh’s preseason finale, a 19-9 win over the Lions.
The 76th general choose within the 2018 NFL Draft, Rudolph arrived in Pittsburgh after being a three-year starter at Oklahoma State, the place he threw 92 touchdowns towards 26 interceptions. He threw for almost 5,000 yards as a senior whereas throwing 37 touchdowns towards simply 9 interceptions. Rudolph’s favourite goal in faculty was James Washington, who was additionally a member of the Steelers’ 2018 rookie class.
Rudolph and Washington loved a profitable partnership in 2019, serving to the Steelers get off to an 8-5 begin regardless of shedding Roethlisberger to a season-ending damage in Week 2. A concussion sustained towards the Ravens, nonetheless, appeared to have lingering results on Rudolph, who in the end misplaced his beginning job to Devlin Hodges late within the season. Rudolph nonetheless managed to go 5-3 that season because the Steelers completed with an 8-8 general document.
Rudolph began only one sport in every of the final two seasons. He threw for 315 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a 24-22 loss to the Browns within the last week of the 2020 season. Whereas he was spectacular in that sport, Rudolph was not at his finest throughout his final begin, a 16-16 tie towards the Lions in Week 10 of the 2021 season.
The Steelers reportedly being reluctant to deal Rudolph is sensible given that he’s the staff’s solely quarterback that has expertise inside offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s system. Rudolph additionally provides Pittsburgh coveted depth at arguably the league’s most vital place.
Rudolph’s expertise is probably going the rationale why Steelers basic supervisor Omar Khan just lately stated that he would not anticipate any adjustments being made to Pittsburgh’s quarterback room earlier than the beginning of the common season.
“We really feel excellent in regards to the three quarterbacks,” Khan stated throughout a current look on the “All Issues Coated” podcast with Patrick Peterson and Bryant McFadden. “Coach will determine how issues will shake out, however we really feel we be ok with the three guys we’ve on the roster.”