PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's like the return to training camp where the Steelers could start any of three guys on Sunday in Carolina. That would include Mason Rudolph, who hasn't had a regular-season snap all year.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin saying he will take it day-to-day with the quarterback decision as of Tuesday afternoon. Kenny Pickett has not been ruled out, the last time in concussion protocol he was able to return for the next game.
"I'm looking at what tomorrow looks like and playing by ear from that perspective," Tomlin said Tuesday. "All three guys are sharp guys, all three guys have been participants in our game planning, particularly of late. All are very capable of playing the position and playing the position at a high level within what we are doing right now."
It would be an interesting turn to go to Rudolph at this point. The 27-year-old will be a free agent after this season and Trubisky is signed for another year. What is the purpose of giving a guy who likely won't be here an opportunity over someone who has a better chance of being on the 2023 roster?
"We work both guys," Tomlin said. "Both guys have remained engaged, it's really been 2 and 2A (as the back-up quarterbacks). There is a scarcity of reps, but when you have veteran backups, guys with a cumulative body of work. Particularly in Mason's case, having been exposed to us and guys that have been here, receivers he would work with. You are calling on past experiences as a catalyst for moving forward."
The 2 and 2A comment is interesting as Rudolph said Monday while he's prepared the same all year, he's just been working to help the other guys. He said he's only had a throw here or there. Rudolph throws on the side while the team goes through special teams snaps, not during regular offense vs. defense drills.
Rudolph said he bartered with Pickett and Trubisky to get one rep each day during the bye week. He said he hasn't had meaningful work since training camp, in August. Now he might start on the road for the first time since November 14th of last year when he found out he would start a day before the game.
Then there is Tomlin, who was stern about how they can't have three turnovers in the red zone on Sunday, saying this Tuesday about Trubisky being 'too aggressive'. A reasoning Trubisky gave multiple times after the game on Sunday.
"That's a balance that we always walk," Tomlin said. "Aggressive pursuit of victory, I'd rather say whoa than sick 'em. I'd rather manage that than the opposite of that."
The Steelers leader earlier praised Trubisky, who has thrown four touchdowns to five interceptions with a 78.4 rating this year. Trubisky has a QB rating higher than Pickett.
"I thought we moved the ball fluidly continually," Tomlin said. "That's what you better have when you have a veteran back-up like him. The reps that he misses during the week are made up for by his cumulative experience and expertise and we felt that. We didn't feel any reduction in what we wanted to do. We just didn't make enough plays when the field got short. We got to do a better job protecting the football."
OK, he mentioned protecting the football again.
Tomlin said no question Pickett will start if he's healthy. Beyond that, by what he said on Tuesday, it's hard to tell who might start in Carolina Sunday at this point of the week.
