Mike Tomlin announces Mason Rudolph will start at QB vs. Bills in Wild Card game
The Pittsburgh Steelers will stick with the “hot hand” of backup quarterback Mason Rudolph this week. The Steelers are headed for a clash against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET and according to Mike Tomlin, Rudolph gives the team its best chance to win – not Kenny Pickett.
Mason Rudolph has led the Steelers to three straight victories over the Bengals, Seahawks and Ravens. He’s thrown for 719 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in those three wins. He’s also taken six sacks.
Against the Ravens in Week 18, the former Pokes star was 18-for-20 for 152 yards and a touchdown. Running back Najee Harris had 112 yards and a touchdown in the season finale that helped the team clinch their spot in the Wild Card round.
Going 18-for-24 last week against the Seahawks, Rudolph threw for 274 yards and helped lift Pittsburgh over Seattle on the road for just the second time in franchise history, despite not throwing for a touchdown in the game.
Kenny Pickett sidelined despite recovery
Kenny Pickett discussed his health with reporters two weeks ago, saying that he feels “good,” but the decision whether he plays is up to the coaches. The former first-rounder has been sidelined for a month for the Steelers after he suffered an ankle injury that required Tightrope surgery.
“It feels good,” Pickett said of his ankle, via the team’s website. “I am going to take it a day at a time, see what the coaches are saying, what the trainers are saying. 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.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported this week that the Steelers still view Pickett as their top guy. Rapoport said: “Despite the fact that Mason Rudolph is going [today], my understanding is the organization does still believe in Kenny Pickett and in no way wants to move on from him after the season. Still a ton of confidence that he can be a franchise starter. It’s really just a matter of playing right now the quarterback that gives them the best chance.”
Prior to the injury, Pickett was completing 62% of his passes with 2,070 passing yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. He is less than 400 yards away from surpassing his 2022 total, which he accumulated over 13 regular season games.