It’s still yet to be determined who will start at quarterback for the Steelers this Sunday in Carolina. But one prominent offensive player has spoken out for who he wants to catch passes from.
Diontae Johnson is officially on Team Rudolph, it seems.
Johnson was asked Thursday morning, before the team’s second practice of the week, if he wants to see fifth-year vet Mason Rudolph start this week, as starter Kenny Pickett is dealing with his second concussion in under two months.
“Yeah, I want to see (Rudolph) play,” Johnson said. “I know he’s ready to play. I know it’s probably in the back of his mind, like ‘ dang, when am I going to get my chance?’ I feel like this week is it for him. I know he’s going to do everything it takes to prepare this week and get ready for Sunday.”
The year couldn’t have been an easy one for Rudolph. Thought to be a legitimate candidate to take over for Ben Roethlisberger this season, Rudolph watched as the Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky and drafted Kenny Pickett.
The team said the competition was an open one, but it never really looked to be that way. Trubisky got the heavy bulk of the first-team reps in the offseason and preseason, and then Pickett got his chance.
“You see a guy that comes in every day that just put his head down and worked,” Johnson said of Rudolph. “Although the circumstances he’s dealing with might be tough, just coming to work and not being able to dress up every week and just seeing everybody play, he’s probably got a lot going through his head.”
Rudolph said Monday that he had received only two team practice reps since training camp, having to ‘barter’ with Pickett and Trubisky for them during the bye week practice. But Johnson says that, despite a lack of practice, Rudolph has handled it well.
“He’s been doing a great job just staying solid through everything and continuing to get better every day,” Johnson said. “You see at practice, he’s locked in, he’s making those throws, continuously showing that he knows what he’s doing, making the right throws here and there, getting everybody lined up right. I like that.”
Johnson has also tried to be there for Rudolph, who was the primary starter when Ben Roethlisberger went down with an elbow injury in 2019, Johnson’s first year in the NFL.
“I talk to him here and there, because that’s my guy still,” Johnson said. “We were on the field a little bit my rookie year. I’m familiar with it. It’s nothing new.”
It likely won’t happen until Friday at the earliest, but the week has certainly brought some uncertainty to the offense. Both Trubisky and Rudolph got first team practice reps Wednesday, and Pickett was limited.
Mike Tomlin has said that Pickett will be the starter if he is cleared to play. But Johnson — yet to catch a touchdown this season — isn’t concerned with the precarious station.
“Just stand on what you’ve got to do," Johnson added. "You can’t worry about what (Pickett’s) going through. Obviously, yeah, he’s our quarterback, that’s our number one. You keep that in the back of your mind, but you’ve got to continue to prepare yourself for the week, no matter whoever is at quarterback.”