CHICAGO (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin called it the ‘prudent decision’ to not play Aaron Rodgers Sunday as he recovers from a fracture in his wrist on his left hand. Tomlin didn’t even wait until game day, he made the decision on Saturday.
Tomlin said it wasn’t a ‘fluid’ week for Rodgers not practicing on Wednesday, limited on Thursday and Friday. He said what really played into it was that Rudolph had more reps during the practice week.
It’s interesting that tight end Jonnu Smith said he didn’t find out until Sunday that Rudolph was starting. Rudolph said he knew on Saturday and has plenty of experience in this role and finding out at different times when he would start over his career. He said it’s just the role of a back-up quarterback.
In his first start with the Steelers since the 2023 playoff game in the snow in Buffalo, Rudolph was 24-31 for 171 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Steelers were 8-14 on third down, but couldn’t make a couple of late throws, both passes tipped.
“You got to credit them,” Rudolph said of the deflected throws. “I know we teach it, I know Cam is one of the best at tipping the ball. It’s a game-changer if you can do that.”
Rudolph didn’t regret the throw to DK Metcalf that ended in an interception on the Steelers second play of the game, he said he will give Metcalf that opportunity to make that play every time. He said he was proud of how the team responded after that, driving 95 yards to end on a touchdown to Metcalf.
“Mason was good,” said Jonnu Smith. “Unfortunately, you can’t win this game with one guy. He came in there and continued to put us in position to win. We had a chance to win a game at the end, that’s all you can ask and that’s what he did.”
“I thought he was game, he always is,” Tomlin said. “He made some plays for us, particularly in the fourth quarter, but as a collective, him included, we didn’t do enough to win.”
Rudolph said Rodgers was supportive of him and knew when to give advice. It appears next week, Rodgers will be the quarterback against Buffalo.
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“I anticipate him being ready for next week,” Tomlin said. “I think it will be in our rear view going forward, I’m hopeful of that.