PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Kenny Pickett is still the Steelers starting quarterback of the future, but Mason Rudolph is the quarterback of the present. Rudolph starting Sunday, regardless of Pickett's health, is consistent with everything the Steelers have done all year.
This organization is playing to win right now, not next year or working to give guys experience. They want to get in the playoffs and take their chances in the 2023 season.
It's not about Pickett's growth, it's about who gives them the best chance to win right now. Rudolph had the Steelers best quarterback performance of the season against the Bengals. Pickett hasn't played since early on in the Arizona game. Rudolph is the hot hand, time to ride it.
Mike Tomlin dodged all the questions asking 'what if both were healthy'. He said he didn't want to play into hypothetical scenarios. It's because he will start Rudolph and doesn't want the headlines to be that the team has given up on Pickett.
Tomlin, and the organization, is making the decision for December 31, not for the first Sunday after Labor Day 2024. It is, again, consistent with what the team has done all year.
Look at their offseason signings, the Steelers had a younger guard with cost control that they could let continue to develop in Kevin Dotson, but their signed 30-year-old Isaac Seumalo to a three-year contract worth $24 million.
They could have given linebacker Mark Robinson at opportunity for more snaps after Myles Jack retired, Devin Bush went to the Seahawks and Robert Spillane signed with the Raiders. They brought in three veterans with a combined 22 years in the league.
To win now.
A hole in their secondary, team signed 33-year-old Patrick Peterson to replace Cam Sutton. Not a young guy, rather a short-term, win-now fix. Safety Keanu Neal is an eight-year veteran, he was signed to win now.
When they started dealing with injuries, Steelers management brought in older guys to the practice squad. Nine-year veteran Eric Rowe, formerly retired linebackers Jack and Blake Martinez. They could have brought in young players to build them for a role. The Steelers went for an attempt at a quick-fix with experience to win this season.
The Steelers have a 17% chance to make the playoffs, that number rose because of the performance from Rudolph on Saturday. He is the option to start.
But what about Pickett's feelings or playing for the future?
None of that matters right now for this organization. They are committed to find a way to win against Seattle. It's not about seeing how Pickett could do in a 25th career start. Let's be real, they know what they have in Pickett and putting him in against Seattle won't change that.
Also, when Pickett comes back next year, he will have a new offensive coordinator with hopefully fresh ideas, what happens Sunday won't factor into 2024. But it will into 2023. That's why the Steelers will go with Rudolph.
If healthy enough, Pickett will be the backup. If Rudolph struggles, they should replace him with Pickett. If there is one area where the former Pitt star excels it's at leading late victories.
It's about winning now and pulling out all the stops.
None of this is personal or developmental, it's a scramble to figure out a way to get into the tournament. They'll worry about next year, next year, or maybe next week against Baltimore if they find themselves eliminated. But not until then.
Mason Rudolph gives them the best chance at accomplishing that objective.
