Mason Rudolph assigned starting QB duties, but is he the answer? Rudolph highlighted his talents with the team during his four years with the team. He took the Steelers to an 8-4-1 record, starting only 13 games. His best work definitely came in the 2019 season. He stepped up when Ben Roethlisberger went down with a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2.
Rudolph’s five-game audition in 2019 had him throwing five touchdowns to only one interception with a 68% completion rate on his pass attempts. He averaged 236 passing yards per game, well above the Steelers’ season total of 186.1. Those contributions helped the team finish 2023 with a playoff berth. He was a starter for the last three games of the regular season and appeared in the team’s wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Just a few weeks ago, that commitment was made by Rudolph when he signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Steelers. This move followed a year-long stint with the Tennessee Titans, where he experienced a challenging run, going 1-4 in five starts. Still, the Steelers brought him back, trusting that he could still carry the franchise on his shoulders.
As Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said, he was confident in Rudolph’s ability.
“I’m comfortable with that. We’ve been there before. He’s a very capable guy.” – Tomlin
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan must have seen something that still made him confident in Rudolph’s abilities. He suggested that the team is open to pursuing a more experienced quarterback to bring into the fold.
“I have a lot of confidence in Mason,” – Khan
In reply, Khan said that was a safe assumption. That’s one of the reasons why he thinks the Steelers will sign a veteran quarterback to be on their roster next season. The team’s interest was clear when Aaron Rodgers made a pre-draft visit to the Steelers on March 21.
Rudolph’s return has all the making of a great comeback story viewed with optimism, shaped by resolve. When adversity strikes in his career, he’s stepped on the master stage to show and prove. On the field he’s unfazed, unflappable and always on the money for the Steelers.
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