NFL: Steelers Had Additional Cart; Doctors OK’d Mason Rudolph Walking off Field

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers medical cart suffered an embracing breakdown on Sunday after coming onto the field to tend to concussed quarterback Mason Rudolph.

As Rudolph was getting to his feet, the cart wouldn’t drive and had to be pushed off the playing surface.

the Steelers need The Power of Bowser.

pic.twitter.com/bvTW6YQBEp

— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) October 6, 2019

The sight of the cart being pushed to one side of the field while a wobbly Rudolph was making his way to the other left some with the impression that the Steelers didn’t have another way to get their quarterback to the sideline.

But after an NFL investigation, that turned out not to be the case.

According to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Steelers have an additional medical cart that could have been called upon if needed, but that team physicians had determined that Rudolph was healthy enough to walk off the field under his own power.

“A cart was brought on the field in the event it was needed,” the NFL’s statement read. “After evaluating the player, medical staff determined a cart was not necessary in this instance. Had one been needed, there was a backup cart on the other sideline which was immediately available. He received appropriate medical care per gameday protocols, and is now in the concussion protocol.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin did not answer a question about why Rudolph walked off the field in his postgame press conference, saying, “Man, ask somebody that’s in charge of that. I don’t drive carts and things of that nature.”