The quarterback carousel in Pittsburgh will feature Mason Rudolph in Week 16.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Rudolph will start Saturday’s home game against the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals in a pivotal game for both teams. Mitch Trubisky has been benched.
The Steelers are hoping Rudolph can bring some stable quarterback play while starter Kenny Pickett continues to rehab from ankle surgery earlier this month.
The Steelers (7-7) have lost three in a row and four of five and are on the outside looking in for the AFC playoff picture as the 10th seed. The Bengals (8-6) have won three in a row on the shoulders of backup quarterback Jake Browning. They are currently the sixth seed in the AFC.
Pickett is questionable this week, Tomlin said, adding that he has “a chance” to be active for the first time since Dec. 3 at Arizona and is pushing to play.
There are big questions on the defensive side of the ball for Tomlin.
The NFL suspended Damontae Kazee without pay for the remainder of the regular season and any potential postseason games for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players,” the league said in a statement Monday, citing past history and the hit on a defenseless Michael Pittman of the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) was ruled out by Tomlin on Monday. He assessed his injury as “not good.” Another safety, Trenton Thompson, is dealing with a stinger and his status for Saturday isn’t clear.
Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward entered concussion protocol on Monday.
Rudolph came in for the benched Trubisky to finish off Saturday’s 30-13 loss to the Colts. Tomlin yanked Trubisky after he threw two interceptions.
Rudolph, 28, started eight games in 2019 and is 5-4-1 overall as the starter for the Steelers. He has thrown for 2,369 yards and 16 TDs against 11 interceptions in 18 career games, all in Pittsburgh.
Trubisky is 0-2 as the starter this season, having thrown for 632 yards and four TDs and five picks.
–Field Level Media
