Kenny Pickett out, Mason Rudolph officially to start for Steelers against Bengals
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On the night before Christmas Eve, Mason Rudolph will guide the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense.
Coach Mike Tomlin made it official after practice Thursday that Rudolph will start at quarterback for Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. A day after characterizing Thursday as “a big day” in evaluating the health of No. 1 QB Kenny Pickett, Tomlin ruled Pickett out vs. the Bengals.
Pickett will miss a third consecutive game after undergoing “tightrope” surgery on an ankle that was injured during a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 2.
Including that game, which erstwhile No. 2 QB Mitch Trubisky finished, the Steelers have lost three in a row. That compelled Tomlin to promote former QB3 Rudolph ahead of Trubisky on the depth chart with the expectation Rudolph would start Saturday.
But Tomlin had left the caveat that Pickett could return, in large part because he had been progressing well in his rehab. Pickett was deemed a limited participant at practice Tuesday and Wednesday via the league-mandated injury report. On Wednesday, he took reps befitting a No. 2 after he had spent Tuesday as the fourth quarterback behind Rudolph, Trubisky and recent practice-squad signee Trace McSorley.
Through a team spokesperson, Tomlin confirmed that Trubisky would serve as the backup to Rudolph.
Mason Rudolph's Steelers teammates have confidence in the QB. "He brings consistency," tight end Pat Freiermuth says. "He knows what’s going on, he knows what we’re trying to execute. I am excited to see what he can do.”https://t.co/vTcLboW10Q
— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) December 20, 2023
Though the NFL added a No. 3 “emergency” quarterback this season, practice-squad players are not eligible for that role, so, barring a promotion to the active roster, McSorley will not be in that position.
Dressing Pickett as the emergency No. 3 would not take up a gameday roster spot. That Tomlin characterized Pickett as “out” could be interpreted as an indication his ankle is not ready for live game play.
Rudolph’s start will be his first since Nov. 14, 2021. He has made only two regular-season relief appearances since, including late during last week’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts after Tomlin benched Trubisky.
”The guy goes out there and does every single warmup routine he’s done since he’s been here,” Steelers co-captain T.J. Watt said of Rudolph. “He’s acted like he’s the starter as far as how he practices and approaches the game. I know he’d love to get more reps but never seen him complain about it. I’m excited for him to get to show himself again on the big stage. I know it must be frustrating to put in all of the work and not get an opportunity. For him to get an opportunity will be awesome to see.”
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