(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced Monday that third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph will start over Mitchell Trubisky in Week 16, a move that has huge implications for the team but wasn’t shocking given how Week 15 ended.
Rudolph came in at the end of the Steelers’ 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday and completed two of his three passing attempts for three yards.
Trubisky had thrown for 169 passing yards before he was benched but only scored one touchdown while he threw two interceptions.
He’s also been 0-2 as the Steelers’ starting quarterback after Kenny Pickett suffered a high ankle sprain, though Pickett could return in time for the Week 16 match on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The news brought fan reactions that ranged from excitement and hope to disappointment and hopelessness – with some jokes for good measure.
RUDOLPH JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!
— John Marks (@jmarkstrader) December 18, 2023
Honestly this improves their odds to win. I’ve never seen a worse starting QB than Trubisky.
— Blake (@BlakeEM_) December 18, 2023
Do I think this will make any difference? No, Pittsburgh Steelers’ problems are bigger than the Quarterback position.
— Simon Hutchins (@SimonHutchins2) December 18, 2023
Good. Now everyone can be reminded how bad Rudolph is. Lol
— Joe Car (@carino_joe) December 18, 2023
That team had absolutely NO contingency plan when Big Ben was in his last yrs. Now look at their current options. Bad GM.
— ALFAJERK_BFH (@Alfajerk_BFH) December 18, 2023
After the Steelers looked like a playoff team through the first 10 weeks of the season, Pittsburgh dropped four of its past five games including its past three to fall to 7-7.
The offense has been a major reason, as the Steelers haven’t scored more than 20 points since Week 10 and have averaged just 14.25 points during the past four games.
The Steelers quarterbacks have also averaged 171.1 passing yards per game over the past four games and rank 28th in the NFL in passing yards this season.
Rudolph’s history, though, doesn’t point to him being the answer for Pittsburgh.
He hasn’t started a game since 2021 and has completed just 61.5 percent of his career passing attempts for 2,369 yards for 16 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
Rudolph’s last start was a 16-16 tie against the Detroit Lions where he completed 30-of-50 attempts for 242 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
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