As the offseason begins, the Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be facing a quarterback crisis.
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, while 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett is expected to
start, several players on the club want experienced backup Mason Rudolph to take over.
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“His teammates like him, several have politicked for him, and another indicated there is enough of a question as to
who should be the starter that the coaching staff needs to figure it out in a hurry,” Dulac said when asked about
Rudolph.
Pickett was injured several times throughout the 2023 season, and an ankle sprain in Week 13 forced him to undergo
surgery and miss the rest of the year. The Steelers first looked to Mitchell Trubisky to replace him, but Rudolph
eventually took over and revitalized the offense.
Rudolph went 3-0 as a starter in the final three weeks of the season, guiding Pittsburgh to a playoff spot. He threw
for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the team’s Wild Card Round loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Rudolph is scheduled to become a free agency, but Dulac stated that Pittsburgh’s “first priority” will be to re-sign
him, as announced by head coach Mike Tomlin and team president Art Rooney II.
