Mason Rudolph confirmed as Steelers starting QB vs Seahawks
A win over the Bengals obviously gets you another start. On Friday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that Mason Rudolph would take the first snap at quarterback against the Seahawks.
The Steelers have a distant chance at making the playoffs, so the road game in Seattle comes with pressure. Sticking with Rudolph could be seen as a gamble as Kenny Pickett returned to practice, albeit on a limited basis. Or sticking with Rudolph may be seen as the best option for the offense, considering what he did last Saturday against the Bengals. The quarterback threw for 290 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That included an 86-yarder to George Pickens on the Steelers second offensive snap of the game.
Earlier this week, Tomlin lauded Rudolph after the quarterback made his first start in two years. Until this month, Rudolph hadn’t even appeared in a game since 2021.
“I thought he did a really good job of being comfortable being himself, communicating with people regardless of the moments,” Tomlin told reporters. “I thought that showed the confidence that he has in himself and I also thought that he remained aggressive throughout.”
Rudolph, the former Oklahoma State star, also impressed with his stats. It’s no secret that the offensively-challenged Steelers rely on their defense to win games. But in a 34-11 victory over Cincinnati, Pittsburgh showed some offensive flash fans have craved. Rudolph and Pickens established a deep connection. After the 86-yard TD, the two connected on a 66-yard score in the third quarter. Plus, they also had a 44-yard throw and catch.
Then there’s this noteworthy stat. The 34 points scored by the Steelers were a season high. In fact, Pittsburgh hasn’t scored that many points in a victory since 2020. No wonder Rudolph turned some heads.
Meanwhile, Pickett has missed the last three games after suffering a high ankle sprain. He returned to practice last week, but he’s still limited in what he can do. Earlier this week, he talked with reporters about how he’d like to play against the Seahawks. The ankle, he said, feels fine.
“I am going to take it a day at a time, see what the coaches are saying, what the trainers are saying,” Pickett said. “They have a plan for me, I am just going about what they are telling me. It feels like I am on track with what I need to do. It’s not how I feel, it’s what they see me doing and how they feel like I am looking moving around.”
Mitch Trubisky started the first two games for the Steelers in Pickett’s absence. Then came Rudolph.
The Steelers, at 8-7, currently are the ninth-ranked team in the AFC, meaning they’re two spots out of the playoffs. Next Gen Stats projects that Pittsburgh has a 18 percent chance of making the post season. A win over the Seahawks raises the percentage to 32 percent. A loss drops the Steelers to 7 percent. Rudolph’s play helped snap a three-game losing streak and gave Pittsburgh at least a glimmer of post-season hope.