Mason Rudolph Said Ben Roethlisberger Didn’t Reach out to Him before Making Fill-in Start

PITTSBURGH — Mason Rudolph and Ben Roethlisberger did not have any communication between the announcement that Roethlisberger had tested positive for COVID-19 on and Rudolph taking his place in the starting lineup.

The Steelers announced that Roethlisberger would be placed on the COVID-19 Reserve List late on Saturday, but Rudolph said that he was able to go through a meeting with offensive coordinator Matt Canada and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan before the start.

While Roethlisberger is currently being isolated from the team after developing COVID-19 symptoms, Rudolph might have benefitted from being able to lean on the experience of the 18-year veteran.

“We did not communicate, no,” Rudolph said.

Rudolph did emphasize the great communication he had with head coach Mike Tomlin, who told him that Roethlisberger would be scratched, and offensive staff Matt Canada and Mike Sullivan.

“Coach Tomlin called me,” Rudolph said. “He’s always been great with communication, making sure guys are aware as soon as he knows. He told me before we had meetings at the hotel. It was good to have a quarterback meeting and a walk-through last night to kind of get yourself mentally acclimated and ready to rock.”