Brooke Pryor, ESPN Staff Writer December 19, 2023, 4:28 pm ET
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- He previously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and Oklahoma University for the Oklahoman.
PITTSBURGH – Looking for another spark this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have turned to Mason Rudolph.
Rudolph, who will be making his first start in nearly two seasons, said Tuesday he is “battle tested” and ready for the opportunity to start against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I think as a third-street quarterback you ask yourself, 'Are you really earning your paycheck week in and week out?'” Rudolph said with a laugh. “And so this week I can finally earn it, put my hand in the deck and fight for victory together.”
Selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Rudolph started his first career game in Week 3 of the 2019 season after Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury. Rudolph started eight games this season, but it was a tumultuous stretch.
Not only was Rudolph benched at halftime of a game in Cincinnati for former practice quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges, he was also at the center of a brawl in Cleveland a week earlier in which defensive end Myles Garrett attempted to hit Rudolph in the head with his own helmet, sparking a scuffle on the field that resulted in fines and suspensions.
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After a brief bench rotation, Rudolph returned to replace Hodges against the New York Jets, but injured his shoulder in the loss and did not play in the season finale.
“We've all experienced adversity, whether you're in the media or playing football, but I think I've had a lot of it, and I think it's made me better, and it's made me a better person,” says Rudolph said. “And I think about some of the things that happened in 1919 – and it was quite a lot – but I’m grateful for that. I think it has made me a better man and a better leader. And it makes you more battle-hardened.”
The next year, Rudolph saw cleanup work in three games before starting a meaningless game against Cleveland in Week 17. Although the Steelers lost, Rudolph had his best performance, throwing for 315 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Since then, Rudolph has started just one game — a tie against the Detroit Lions in 2021 when Roethlisberger went on the reserve/COVID-19 list. In that game, Rudolph completed 30 of 50 attempts for 242 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also took great snaps in the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16.
The next time Rudolph took the field was last week against the Indianapolis Colts, when coach Mike Tomlin substituted Mitch Trubisky for Rudolph just before the two-minute warning.
“We didn’t do anything good today,” Tomlin said of the decision to bench Trubisky.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who was drafted a year after Rudolph, praised the quarterback for his resilience.
“He brings the courage that you’re looking for, that he won’t give up,” Johnson said. “He will come in and do his job 100 percent. I have every confidence in Mason that he will come in and do his job and get everyone the ball. It’s our job on the outside to simply rally around them.”
Although he started 10 games, Rudolph does not have much experience with this group of offensive players, having largely been the scout team quarterback. Although Tomlin didn't officially name Rudolph the starter on Monday – and also left the “door open” for Kenny Pickett to return from TightRope ankle surgery – Rudolph got first-team representation on Tuesday for the first time in more than two years, during Pickett was a limited participant.
“I think I've stayed sharp up to this point this season, trying to make every single shot I can and simulating throws in the game plan every week, making checks, etc.,” Rudolph said. “So yeah, I’m not going to try to make up for lost time. I focus on every day and every rep, and that’s all you can do.”
Even after waiting more than two full years between starts, Rudolph doesn't expect to be reckless and have nothing to lose — even though his head coach said the main reason for switching from Trubisky to Rudolph was to score more goals .
“I think obviously you want to move the chains and score points, but let's not be stupid with the football and find the open guy,” Rudolph said. “Take what the defense gives you, control the ball when necessary and don’t try to be the hero. And I think if you think like that, I don't think you put too much pressure on yourself and end up.” Play gently and find a rhythm.
“I’m not going to go as far as I can on the first play. It’s going to come down to making shots when the defense allows you and taking it one play at a time on every play.”