SN Debate: Did Mason Rudolph Get Fair Chance to Win Steelers Starting Job?

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback competition is winding down, and despite a late charge by Kenny Pickett, it seems likely that Mitch Trubisky will lead the team out of the tunnel Week 1 in Cincinnati. The third party in the team’s three-way quarterback competition has been mostly discussed as a potential trade option, with very few arguing that Mason Rudolph should be the Steelers’ starter despite a very strong preseason.

Has Rudolph been given a fair shot at winning the starting job? That’s the topic of today’s Steelers Now debate.

ALAN SAUNDERS, ARGUING NO

Mason Rudolph has looked about as good as he had at any point in his Pittsburgh Steelers career as he has this past month as the Steelers have been sorting out their pecking order at quarterback.

But he’s not any closer to earning that job than he was at the start of training camp. The Steelers started training camp by putting Mitch Trubisky as the top of the pecking order,  based on his previous accomplishments as an NFL quarterback. 

Trubisky has started each of the first two preseason games and said Wednesday that he expects to start the third. In the first game, Rudolph followed Trubisky, but did so with the second-team offensive around him. In the second game, Pickett followed Trubisky, and got to play with the first team.

Similarly, work with the first team throughout the training camp practices at St. Vincent College was dominated by Trubisky, with Pickett getting more opportunities to run with the first squad than Rudolph did, something that he lamented toward the end of camp.

“Obviously, I would have liked to have had some more first-team reps,” Rudolph said. “I think you guys have seen how practice has gone. But I think I’ve made the most of the reps I have gotten and I thought I’ve performed well this camp.”

It’s possible that Rudolph will get a chance to play with the first team in the preseason finale, but to this point, he has not been given an equal chance to win the starting job when compared to Trubisky, or even to Pickett.

NICK FARABAUGH, ARGUING YES

Rudolph played well throughout his time at training camp and in the preseason. While he was not the flashiest quarterback who made dynamite throws out of the pocket nor did he take the consistent flashy down-the-field shots, it was Rudolph who took care of the football. That is where Rudolph made his due during the entirety of training camp process.

However, he did have a fair enough shot at the job. Just like Pickett, he was given a day where got action with the first team. Then, directly after that in the game, Rudolph faced varsity opponents against the Seahawks. Pickett just had the same opportunity against the Jaguars. From here on out, it is more about who impressed the most to get that next job.

The bigger thing with Mason Rudolph is that he does not necessarily need the opportunity anyways. After all, Rudolph has largely had his chances. He started 10 games over the last three seasons for the Steelers. They know who Rudolph is to them, while Trubisky and Pickett are more true unknowns in their eyes. So, why would there be a need for Rudolph to get a ton of reps with the first team and so on?

Simply put, Rudolph’s chance to win the starting job largely already came in previous seasons. Rudolph was afforded similar chances to Pickett to prove he can push Trubisky for that job. It appears that Pickett could be on the precipice of doing that. However, up to this point, Pickett has been the more impressive quarterback in live, in-game action.

His reps are as much about the Steelers’ familiarity with him as they are about the surge of Pickett’s performance. While Rudolph has played well to this point, his chance to prove his worth as a starter came before the 2022 season. Now, the Steelers are trying to know Trubisky and Pickett better.

YOU PICK THE WINNER