WR Diontae Johnson rooting for Mason Rudolph to get snaps at quarterback for Steelers
Share this post:
When he was a rookie in 2019, Diontae Johnson’s first NFL touchdown reception came on a pass thrown to him by Mason Rudolph.
It took place in the third week of the year when Rudolph made his first career start for the Pittsburgh Steelers after Ben Roethlisberger sustained a season-ending elbow injury.
As his fourth season enters the home stretch, Johnson is still searching for the first touchdown this year, and he thinks it would be poetic justice if Rudolph is the one who throws it.
That could happen if Rudolph is named the starting quarterback for the Steelers’ game Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky have taken turns running the first-team offense in practice in the wake of rookie Kenny Pickett being placed in concussion protocol.
“I want to see him play,” Johnson said Thursday before he missed practice with a hip injury. “I know he’s ready to play. I know it’s probably in the back of his mind, ‘Dang, when am I going to get my chance?’ I feel like this week is it for him. I know he’s going to do everything it takes to prepared this week and get ready for Sunday.”
Pickett, who was placed in concussion protocol in the first quarter of the Steelers’ 16-14 loss to Baltimore on Sunday, was limited in practice Thursday for the second day in row. That increases the likelihood that Trubisky or Rudolph will be under center when offense takes the field at Bank of America Stadium.
Trubisky and Rudolph again alternated reps with the first-team offense Thursday.
“Business as usual,” center Mason Cole said. “Both guys can operate this offense at a high level. We have confidence whoever is back there.”
Based on experience, Johnson has confidence in Rudolph, referring to him as “my guy,” a term he has used to describe his relationship with Roethlisberger. Although they have been teammates for four years, Johnson and Rudolph haven’t had a chance to develop much of a chemistry since that 2019 season. Even after Roethlisberger retired in January, Rudolph took a backseat when the Steelers signed Trubisky in free agency and then drafted Pickett with the No. 20 overall pick.
“You see a guy who comes in every day, just puts his head down and works,” Johnson said. “The circumstances he’s dealing with might be tough — coming to work and not dressing every week and seeing everybody play — and it’s going through his head.
“He’s been doing a great job of staying solid through everything. He continues to get better every day. He’s locked in, making those throws, continually showing he knows what he’s doing. He’s getting everybody lined up. I like that. That’s my guy still.”
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada said the decision to split snaps between the backups this week in practice isn’t a sign of dissatisfaction with Trubisky, who threw three interceptions against the Ravens after replacing Pickett.
“We’ve had two guys getting a lot of reps. Mason hasn’t gotten reps,” he said. “We certainly don’t want to have happen what happened on Sunday when, on the fifth play, our quarterback got banged out. It would be a disservice to everybody to have Mason come in and play and not have any reps.
“It’s our job to make sure he’s ready to play when and if that would occur.”
If Rudolph starts, perhaps he can help end Johnson’s streak without a touchdown. In 13 games, the All-Pro selection from 2021 has 67 catches for 647 yards without reaching the end zone.
Johnson’s play against the Ravens provided a glimpse that the streak might be ending. He had six catches, his most since Week 3, for 82 yards, which were two shy of his season high in a game.
“I’m trying,” Johnson said. “Each and every week, I’m trying to get in the box. It’s the longest I’ve ever been without scoring.”