Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t decide to a beginning quarterback for the workforce’s Week 17 sport on the Seattle Seahawks, however he did point out that Mason Rudolph would enter the week getting first-team reps whereas they wait to see how Kenny Pickett’s ankle damage progresses.
No matter Pickett’s standing, essentially the most logical alternative for the Steelers could be to offer Rudolph one other alternative on Sunday.
Rudolph was given the beginning in Week 16 because of the mixture of Pickett’s damage and backup Mitch Trubisky persevering with to wrestle. Rudolph not solely received the beginning and led the Steelers to a 34-11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, however he additionally displayed a number of the greatest quarterback play Pittsburgh has seen in a minimum of three or 4 years.
That efficiency ought to be sufficient to persuade Tomlin and his employees to offer Rudolph one other probability.
Although Pickett was a first-round choice a yr in the past, their beginning QB and doubtlessly their long-term reply on the place, the Steelers can’t be involved about his improvement proper now. They’re in a must-win scenario and combating for a playoff spot. All they should be centered on are wins by any means needed and by no matter participant may also help produce them.
Rudolph led the Steelers to their highest level complete of the season and appeared to develop an instantaneous reference to affect broad receiver George Pickens.
If something, Pickett not being one hundred pc may give Tomlin and the Steelers all the duvet they should begin Rudolph once more. If Rudolph flops in Seattle, it might be no problem to return to Pickett for Week 18 in Baltimore. If Rudolph repeats his efficiency, nevertheless, now you could have a scenario the place you may need a sizzling hand that you might trip to a playoff spot.
Although Rudolph entered the season because the workforce’s third-string quarterback, he has posted higher profession numbers than each Pickett and Trubisky. Together with Saturday’s win, he has an 83.6 profession passer score with 18 touchdowns to 11 interceptions in 19 profession appearances and 11 profession begins.
Only for comparability’s sake, Pickett has managed solely a 78.8 passer score and thrown simply 13 touchdowns in 25 appearances and 24 begins. Trubisky has a 77.6 passer score and has thrown extra interceptions (10) than touchdowns (eight) in his 12 appearances with the Steelers.
It has been a wild trip for Rudolph throughout his time with the Steelers. It continues with the chance that he’s their most suitable choice for a vital sport with heavy playoff implications.