PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mason Rudolph will be the third different Steelers starting quarterback this month Saturday at 4:30p against the Bengals. It’s never an ideal situation for the team, but teammates have a strong respect for how Rudolph has handled his six years with the Steelers.
Those few who were around when Mason was on the roster with Ben Roethlisberger know it was an icy relationship. Far from the mentor-student feeling that would have been ideal for a young QB. Then there was the season Roethlisberger was lost for the year. Even in that opportunity came the Browns Myles Garrett swinging Rudolph’s helmet off his head and somehow he became the bad guy.
He would get three other starts since that dubious night in 2019.
It hasn’t been an easy half-dozen years in Pittsburgh, yet players speak of a guy who has come ready to work, even while mostly in a practice squad role.
“I think Mason has just gone about his business,” said Cam Heyward, his teammate his entire career. “He’s waited his time. I know he’s dealt with his struggles, but I know he’s always battled back. He’s come to work every day and competed and just been ready for when his number is called.”
“Every single warm-up routine that he’s done since he’s been here he’s acted like he’s the starter as far as how he practices,” said TJ Watt. “How he approaches the game. I know he would have loved to get more reps, but never saw him complain about it. I’m excited for him to get to show himself again on the big stage. I know it must be frustrating to put in all the work and not get an opportunity.”
“He brings consistency,” said TE Pat Freiermuth. “What Coach T said was spot on, he’s been here for six years. He knows what is going on. He’s handled it great. Obviously, he’s been through a rollercoaster of emotions.”
Allen Robinson has only been Rudolph’s teammate for nine months, but he knows of his story and understands what he’s gone through. He thinks Rudolph is likely stronger because of it.
“He’s a person, when you kind of have a rollercoaster of a career, you start to get mentally tested in many ways,” Robinson said. “You are able to handle adversity. You are able to see things from a different lens. I think he has that perspective. I think it is a great perspective at that position. He understands things that Coach T wants.”
Diontae Johnson said Rudolph brings a grit to the position you are looking for. Even Rudolph laughed saying maybe just dealing with the weather, being from the South, really developed that. Johnson said he admires Rudolph for not giving up and doing his job 100% every day.
“I know it’s tough on him,” Johnson said. “Just seeing him go through that every day, not saying nothing, head down, just working. He comes to work and still talking to everybody like nothing is bothering him. That makes me keep going too.”
“If he can do it, I can do it. In certain situations, and I’m feeling some type of way, I look at him and that gives me motivation to keep going. His situation is very different from mine because I’m playing and he’s not. I can just take something and learn from that.”
“He's excited about his opportunity, and why wouldn't he be?” said offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner. “It's a big game and he can really make his point about some things. It's an opportunity for him to put himself in good standing moving forward. So, I like Mason's demeanor right now.”
Any opportunity to show what you can do in a game situation is huge. His last start came 25 months ago. He was a free agent last offseason and didn’t have one taker, so he came back to the Steelers to be the third-string QB. He says the focus is to find a way to beat the Bengals, but if he’s able to do that, and look good doing it, others will be watching.
“I’m excited for him to get to show himself again on the big stage,” Watt said. “I know it must be frustrating to put in all the work and not get an opportunity.”
“Excited for him, we are going to need him to step up,” Heyward said.
“I have full confidence in Mason to come in and do his job and get everybody the ball,” Johnson said. “It’s our job on the outside to just rally around him.”
They haven’t done a great job at that with Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubisky before him, maybe this week will be different.