PITTSBURGH — Mason Rudolph will not get to start this week as the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Indianapolis Colts, and he will not even be in a competition to the the starting quarterback, but he will get additional work in practice this week, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday.
Rudolph, the team’s third quarterback, has not appeared in a game since 2021, but that didn’t stop fans from chanting for him after Mitch Trubisky had a disastrous first half against the New England Patriots on Thursday.
Trubisky, starting in place of injured first-teamer Kenny Pickett, threw one interception that was nearly returned for a touchdown, had another overturned by a penalty and a third dropped in what was a rough first half for him and the rest of the team.
That prompted chants for Rudolph from the Steelers faithful at Acrisure Stadium. Tomlin said after the game that he never contemplated inserting Rudolph into the lineup and added Monday that he will not be in a competition with Trubisky during practice this week. With Pickett out at least another week, Trubisky will start.
“I don’t know that we’re evaluating practice performance in that way at this time of the year,” Tomlin said. “He’ll have an opportunity to get some work. We’ll evaluate that work and we’ll evaluate his readiness, but we’re not opening up competition and things of that nature. It’s just not an environment for that as we work.”
That being said, there will be a significant opportunity for Rudolph to be more ready to play than he was last Thursday. With the Steelers turning things around on a short week in between Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals when Pickett was injured and Thursday night against the New England Patriots, there was precious little practice time, and practically none for backups.
Now, Rudolph will assume a more traditional backup role in practice this week, and will get the opportunity to show he’s ready, in case Trubisky once again struggles.
“Mason will get an opportunity to get some reps, certainly” Tomlin said. “You don’t get the opportunity to get a lot of that, particularly when you’re at the three spot. When you’re at the two spot, and you have a full week, certainly. Last week, there were a limited amount of reps for all parties involved, and so he certainly will get a bigger opportunity this week from a preparation standpoint.”
Rudolph hasn’t played in a game since the 2021 season, when he started in place of Ben Roethlisberger, who was out with COVID-19 against the Detroit Lions. Rudolph finished that game 30 of 50 for 242 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also appeared in one garbage time appearance that season.
The Steelers’ third-round pick out of Oklahoma State in 2018, Rudolph has played in 17 games and made 10 starts, with a career completion percentage of 61.5% and an 80.9 passer rating.
The Steelers only made two quarterbacks active for the game. Trace McSorley was signed to the practice squad last week, but was not elevated for the game.