Mason Rudolph has, without a doubt, had one of the strangest runs for a backup quarterback that the NFL — especially the NFL in Pittsburgh — has ever seen.
From getting his head bashed in by his own helmet in Cleveland, to a strenuous relationship with the long-time starter, to exiting a season as the team's top quarterback and entering the next as the third stringer, it's been beyond a rollercoaster.
Rudolph, however, has tried to keep pushing through it all.
"There's been some adversity, for sure," Rudolph said Wednesday. "And I think at each bump, I have overcome it and bounced back. But that's life. For the most I've been blessed to be here playing professional football. Has there been adversity, yes?"
Rudolph, most recently, was demoted to the team's third string quarterback, beaten out by starter Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett.
Though, in line with the various twists and turns to his young career, the Steelers mistakenly listed him as the team's backup Monday when they released their first regular season depth chart. 19 hours later, they changed it, with Mike Tomlin describing it as a "clerical error."
"I got a bunch of texts from people, like 'oh, you're the backup,'" Rudolph said. "And (I'm) like, 'No, I'm not. That's fake news. Don't listen to that.'"
Now, as the team's third string quarterback, after being told that he'd be in line to compete for the top job, the question becomes if a trade might be best for the fifth-year player, if getting an opportunity elsewhere might benefit his career the most and if he wants out.
"Yeah, you know, those decisions are between my agent and (Steelers general manager Omar Khan) and the front office," Rudolph said. "I'm not going to — I'm going to leave that to those guys. For now, I'm on this team and I'll do the best to help the guys prepared and do everything I can from a mental perspective to help the other two guys. If they need any help."
It's clear that Rudolph isn't fully at peace with the shake that he got from the Steelers. Besides a very small handful of training camp snaps, he's run either with the second or third string players throughout the preseason.
"Um, the hand I was dealt was the hand I was dealt," he said. "I thought I did the best I could with it. I thought I did the best I could with it. I controlled what I could control. There's always mistakes, but I was proud of it.
"For any competitor, you always want to be first. That's not the case… I think I competed well. I was happy with the way I played in camp, in practice and games. I'm happy."
Rudolph knows, however, that he could quickly be elevated from third string to a more prominent role. It happened in 2009, when he entered in Week 2, and lost his job to the third string quarterback, Devlin Hodges.
A year ago, he was an injury, or one play away, from taking over for Roethlisberger. So despite being in a spot that he likely didn't envision for himself, Rudolph is still staying open to any potential.
"It can change fast, no question," he said. "I'm going to stay physically ready, with the reps I get, and sharp mentally, and take advantage of the meeting time. It's the same mode of operation, except that you're two plays away."
