The Pittsburgh Steelers have made the decision to keep Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback despite the fact that their chances of making the postseason are slim. Coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday that Rudolph will captain the team in a vital must-win regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, even though 2022 first-round selection Kenny Pickett was cleared to return following TightRope surgery on his ankle.
Tomlin said on Monday that “Kenny’s availability is somewhat uncertain this week.” “Given the urgency of the situation, we feel Mason Rudolph offers us the best opportunity to succeed, even though I anticipate him being available for practice. He’s played well over the last two weeks, taking good care of the ball and helping to greater scoring.
Even while the Steelers might still qualify for the postseason with a defeat in Baltimore, things get simpler for them if they win and get help from other teams during the last weekend of games. After replacing Mitch Trubisky as the starting quarterback in Week 15, Rudolph has guided the Steelers’ offense to an average of 32 points and 432.5 yards per game. Rudolph demonstrated his abilities in the most recent win over the Seattle Seahawks, finishing 18 of 24 passes for 274 yards with no interceptions.
Rudolph’s performance was commended by coach Tomlin, who emphasized his self-assurance and aggressive playing style. The team’s recent success can be attributed in large part to the calculated risk-taking that comes with chasing wins. Tomlin stressed how critical it is to keep up the good work, particularly before a difficult game against the fiery Ravens in a hostile setting.
Rudolph’s numbers speak for themselves; in his two starts, he completed 68.5% of his pass attempts for two touchdowns and had remarkable QBRs of 70.9 and 79.1. On the other hand, Pickett has performed poorly in his second season, finishing 62% of his passes with a QBR of 38.8, six touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Tomlin decided to start Rudolph even though Pickett was medically cleared to play; he justified the choice by pointing to preparation and the distribution of practice reps. To avoid speculating and to emphasize a day-by-day, week-by-week approach, Tomlin declined to comment on the long-term plans with Pickett or whether he would return to start in the playoffs if the Steelers advance.
With the team aiming to achieve victory and prolong their postseason adventure, the Steelers are keeping their attention on the current task at hand and the tangible hurdles that lie ahead as they prepare for a crucial matchup against the Ravens.
