Steelers Aiming To Re-Sign Mason Rudolph

The projected recent departure of Mitch Trubisky has already caused some changes to the appearance of the quarterback’s locker in the Steelers. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the team hopes to hold onto backup quarterback Mason Rudolph going ahead, so they’re hoping for minimal changes.

Rudolph’s potential departure is the product of free agency, not Trubisky’s. Rudolph, a 2018 third-round draft selection, has completed his rookie contract as well as two one-year extensions. Rudolph was used by the Steelers early in his career, as he started eight games in 2019. However, in the four years that have passed since then, he hasn’t seen that many starts combined.

Following the injury of regular starter Ben Roethlisberger in 2019, Rudolph guided Pittsburgh to five victories in eight starts. Rudolph was benched in favor of Devlin Hodges following a physical altercation on the field with Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, during which Garrett accused him of using a racial epithet. He wouldn’t start a game again until the final day of the 2020 season, when the starters took a day off, then again in 2021 when Roethlisberger was replaced by COVID-19. He was demoted to third-string duty behind Trubisky and then-rookie Kenny Pickett, and he would sit out the whole 2022 season.

This year, Rudolph saw his first extended action in four years. With the Steelers’ season circling the drain as one of the league’s least efficient offenses, Rudolph finally found his way back to the field. With Pickett sidelined with injury, Trubisky was in for a start against the Colts in Week 14. Rudolph stepped in due to Trubisky’s struggles and would start the next two games as to new No. 2 behind an injured Pickett.