Not only did Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph play arguably the best game of his career against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16, he turned in the best quarterback performance for the team in perhaps a couple years.
Without a doubt, Rudolph, who was Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback at the beginning of December, has earned another start. Whether he will receive another opportunity to start in Week 17, though, has yet to be determined.
During his postgame press conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin received a question about Rudolph’s playing status for Week 17. However, Tomlin declined to elaborate on whether Rudolph would play against the Seattle Seahawks on December 31.
“It is early to ask,” Tomlin said in response to a reporter during his postgame press conference.
With Rudolph behind center on December 23, the Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 34-11 victory. It was Pittsburgh’s first victory while scoring more than 30 points in 56 games.
Mike Tomlin Sounds Off on Mason Rudolph’s Performance Against Bengals
Rudolph played 6 snaps in Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts. But besides that, prior to December 23, he hadn’t appeared on the field in a regular season game in nearly two years.
Before Week 16, Rudolph’s last start came on November 14, 2021.
But despite that layoff, Rudolph sparked the Steelers offense at the very start of the game. On his first pass of the contest, Rudolph found George Pickens on a short route that went 86 yards for a touchdown.
“He was Mason. We talked about it earlier in the week, he has a belief in himself,” Tomlin told reporters in his postgame press conference. “He’s aggressive in his play style, and I thought he did a really good job not displaying a lot of rust for a guy who hadn’t played obviously a lot.”
Late in the second quarter, Rudolph hit Pickens down the sideline for a 44-yard completion to set up a field goal just before halftime. The veteran quarterback connected with Pickens for yet another long pass in the third quarter — this time, a 66-yard touchdown.
Behind those 3 long passing plays, Rudolph threw for more yards than either Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubisky have in a single game this season.
Will Rudolph Start Again in Week 17?
Rudolph was spectacular on December 23, particularly compared to the quarterback play the Steelers have received most of this season. And for that reason, Tomlin will face a lot more questions about who will start behind center for Pittsburgh in Week 17.
In addition to ending Pittsburgh’s scoring 30 points in a win drought, Rudolph became the first Steelers quarterback to throw for more than 250 yards and 2 touchdowns in a game since Ben Roethlisberger in Week 14 of the 2021 season.
Rudolph did the little things right too. He threw away balls when receivers weren’t open to avoid interceptions and sacks. Rudolph also helped the offense avoid a safety when Jaylen Warren fell down prior to a handoff in the fourth quarter.
Heading into Week 17, it will be difficult to argue that Rudolph isn’t the best short-term option behind center for the Steelers. But, just prior to kickoff, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Pickett was eyeing Week 17 as his likely return date.
Starting Rudolph next week if Pickett is healthy could have a long-term impact on Pittsburgh’s future at quarterback. It will also obviously greatly influence whether the Steelers will stay in the playoff hunt another week.
Facing such a critical decision, it’s not surprising Tomlin declined to name a starting quarterback immediately after Week 16.
