The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tough choice when it comes to who is going to play quarterback when they line up on Saturday afternoon at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. Mitch Trubisky hasn't impressed at all in 2023 whether it has been as a starter, or in relief of Kenny Pickett when he has been knocked out games due to injury. The veteran signal-caller was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and will be taking a seat after his struggles over the course of the season.
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Steelers third-string quarterback, Mason Rudolph (#2) makes a throw during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Trubisky is now 2-5 as a Steelers quarterback after Pittsburgh dropped a 13-0 lead against the Indianapolis Colts to lose 30-13. Trubisky scored a touchdown on the ground on a quarterback sneak and threw a score to Diontae Johnson in the first half, but the offense struggled to do much of anything in the second half with their longest drive of seven plays ending in a punt. Trubisky threw a pair of interceptions and got pulled in favor of Mason Rudolph to end the game.
Rudolph entered regular season game action for the first time since Week 15 in 2021 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The rust was apparent for the 2018 third-round pick as he threw three passes for two completions for a net of three yards. His first pass to running back Jaylen Warren was bottled up for a loss of three. He completed his second pass to Pat Freiermuth for a gain of six, but was sacked on the subsequent fourth down try for a loss of 11.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin announced during his weekly press conference on Monday that Rudolph will get the start against the Bengals on Saturday.
"Our intention as it is here today is to give Mason Rudolph an opportunity to start," Tomlin said. "He's a veteran guy. He's a backup, but a veteran guy. He's been in our program a long time. He's here for those reasons. We have a great deal of comfort with him."
Trubisky has played in five games in 2023 and accounts for six turnovers in those contests. He came in relief of an injured Pickett in Week 4 against the Houston Texans with the game already decided in the Texans' favor and finished three for five for 18 yards. He appeared again in relief of Pickett in a closer contest with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but tossed a pair of interceptions that held back the Steelers' comeback efforts. Against the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots, Trubisky and the offense struggled mightily and Trubisky turned the ball over twice.
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Steelers quarterbacks Devlin 'Duck' Hodges and Mason Rudolph held down the fort at quarterback in 2019.
Rudolph hasn't had much playing time in Pittsburgh since being drafted. He was the third quarterback in his rookie season in 2018, but was thrust into action in his sophomore season as Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the year. He finished 5-3 in eight games before injuries derailed his season too.
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The fans chanting in the stands for something to change will get their wish again as Rudolph takes over the starting job. Rudolph hasn't started a game for the team since Week 10 of 2021 when he relieved Roethlisberger who was forced to miss the game in COVID-19 protocol. He finished that game 30 of 50 for 242 yards with a touchdown and an interception as Pittsburgh tied the previously 0-8 Detroit Lions.
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Mason Rudolph tries to complete a pass against the Detroit Lions.
Tomlin said the team needed to make a change at quarterback after the struggle to put points on the board in recent weeks.
"We don't like what we're looking at and the consistency of it," Tomlin said about making the quarterback change. "What I mean is we're not scoring enough points. I'm not dumping the outcome of the game on Mitch's feet, but I am saying the guy at that position is at the controls and does have a big say in how things unfold. It's really more about Mason Rudolph being deserving of an opportunity and us changing the trajectory of what has been transpiring."
Tomlin left the door open for Pickett to potentially returning. He's been pushing hard to return after his surgery for his ankle. He said the focus of the early week will be to ready Rudolph, but they will continue to monitor Pickett's status.
Would you play Rudolph over Pickett, even if he's cleared to play? Comment below!
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