All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2022 offseason roster.
2 • Mason Rudolph, fifth-year QB, Oklahoma State
6-foot-5, 235 pounds, 26 years old
Acquired: Drafted by the Steelers with the No. 76 overall pick in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Last season: Spent all season as Ben Roethlisberger’s primary backup, and played in two games. He started the Steelers’ Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions while Roethlisberger was in COVID-19 protocol. Rudolph completed 30 of 50 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but the Steelers tied the Lions after a Pat Freiermuth fumble in overtime. Rudolph also competed 5 of 8 for 35 yards in mop up duty at Kansas City on Dec. 26.
Career: Rudolph did not play as a rookie in 2018, and was thrust into a more-prominent-than-expected role in 2019 when Roethlisberger was lost for the season in Week 2 to a forearm injury.
Rudolph started eight games and played in 10, finishing with a 5-3 record while dealing with an injury of his own after suffering a concussion against Baltimore on Oct. 6. Rudolph missed the following game and then returned for five more before losing his starting job to Devlin Hodges, who filled in while Rudolph was injured. Rudolph replaced Hodges in the Steelers’ Week 16 game at the New York Jets, but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
In 2020, he played sparingly through the first 15 games of the season as Ben Roethlisberger’s primary backup before getting an opportunity while the Steelers rested starters in Week 17 at Cleveland. Rudolph finished that game with 315 yards on 22 of 39 passing with two touchdowns and one interception, while nearly leading the shorthanded Steelers to a comeback victory.
College: Rudolph worked his way up the depth chart as a freshman at Oklahoma State, starting three games after a pair of injuries.
After that, he was a three-time starter, completing over 63% of his passes and throwing for 13,618 yards. He was an All-American and All-Big 12 selection after the 2017 season, when he threw for 4,904 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Camp outlook: Rudolph finished minicamp as the clear No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart, behind free agent addition Mitch Trubisky, but ahead of first-round rookie Kenny Pickett and Chris Oladokun.
The three-way battle for the starter’s role between Trubisky, Rudolph and Pickett should continue through the end of training camp and into the preseason. The Steelers have three preseason games, and it would not be surprising to see each get one start.
Future: Rudolph signed a one-year contract extension with the Steelers that runs through the end of the 2022 season. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March for the first time in his career,.
The rest of the 90:
