Sitting at 7-7, the Pittsburgh Steelers currently find themselves on the outside looking into the AFC’s playoff picture, trailing the seventh-seed Indianapolis Colts by just one game after losing to them in Week 15. During that game, Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky was benched in favor of Mason Rudolph, who is expecting to be the starter in Week 16.
Rudolph addressed the media this week to speak on his expectations for this week and his preparation to be the team’s starter despite the possibility of starting quarterback Kenny Pickett returning from an ankle injury that has caused him to miss the team’s past two games.
"I’m going to take the reps that I was given today and do the best with it," Rudolph said. Despite the possibility of Pickett returning, Rudolph is doing his best to be prepared if his name is called upon.
After speaking with head coach Mike Tomlin, Rudolph believes he is playing this week: "… I talked to Coach T [Tomlin] for the final [decision], but as far as I know, I’m playing and that’s the way I’m treating it," Rudolph stated.
In 10 career starts, Rudolph has a 5-4-1 record. In those 10 starts, he’s completed 60.66 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,081 yards, and has a 13:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Up next for Rudolph and the Steelers is a matchup against their divisional rival Cincinnati Bengals, who are also one game ahead of them in the AFC’s playoff picture. In other words, this game has massive postseason implications.
