PITTSBURGH — The Steelers will head to Canton in about 48 hours to go play the Cowboys in the Hall of Fame game on Thursday. While the game is obviously a big-time evaluation tool for Mike Tomlin and the rest of the staff, the Steelers have to be cautious in some ways to not injure some of their key players.
As a result, Cam Heyward, Joe Haden, and Ben Roethlisberger will all miss the Hall of Fame game as a precautionary measure. It is likely that players like T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick may miss the game as well. However, with some veterans sitting out, the Steelers will get a closer look at the evaluation of young guys.
In particular, the quarterback rotation will be fascinating. However, Mason Rudolph is the starter. Just days after Dwayne Haskins took some reps as the backup, it appears that Rudolph at least has that position for now. The rotation will go with Rudolph to start, then Haskins closing out the first half, and Josh Dobbs taking the entire second half of the game.
The Steelers plan to give Haskins and Dobbs the two-minute drills on Tuesday in training camp as preparation for the game. Tomlin noted that none of the rotation is to evaluate 2022, he is simply concerned with the present. However, Tomlin is excited to see what Haskins can do, as Tomlin says he has grown leaps and bounds.
“He’s grown by leaps and bounds,” Tomlin said. “He does a good job of communicating with coaches and players. He is gaining an idea of what we are trying to do schematically and his role in it. He is gaining a rapport with the receivers.”
As far as the game, Tomlin is more so looking for who can stand out in special teams and in live-action more so than anything. The parts of the game that they can not simulate at Heinz Field. The Steelers will play the Cowboys on Thursday, August 5th, at 8 PM on Fox.