For a veteran like Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, shining throughout a handful of padless OTA practices isn’t groundbreaking information. However his presence as a pacesetter for a younger offense in search of somebody to observe is vital, and one week in, Rudolph is doing the job. At the same time as questions swirl round Aaron Rodgers, who may signal at a second’s discover and bump Rudolph down the depth chart, Rudolph is performing as if he’s the man from begin to end. That caught the eye of beat author Mike Prisuta.
“Actually impressed with Mason Rudolph by way of how calm he’s,” Prisuta informed Missi Matthews in a wrap-up video for the workforce’s YouTube channel. “How he understands that proper now it’s about him and he can’t do something about [anything] apart from him. Perhaps Aaron Rodgers is coming, possibly he isn’t, however proper now, Mason Rudolph is QB1.”
Throughout Tuesday’s first apply, Rudolph fielded a number of questions on his standing because the beginning quarterback and the Steelers’ curiosity in Rudolph. His solutions hit all the correct notes, specializing in the gamers who’re right here and the best way to develop their, and his personal, sport. Rudolph informed reporters he’s tuned out the “noise” of the rumors, hypothesis, and reviews after coping with them all through his profession.
A bumpy street has given Rudolph experiences to fall again on. A troublesome 2019 season, rotating with Duck Hodges as each gamers struggled to fill Ben Roethlisberger’s large sneakers. Buried on the depth chart in 2022 and 2023 earlier than making the most of his alternative late within the ’23 season, main the Steelers to the playoffs. Spending final yr in Tennessee with out a lot expertise on a workforce that may go on to have the No. 1 general decide. Now, Rudolph finds himself again in Pittsburgh, turning down presents from different groups partly due to his slot in Arthur Smith’s system.
“I simply actually like the best way he’s dealt with himself,” Prisuta mentioned.
Rudolph’s professionalism received’t deter the Steelers from pursuing Rodgers, who they imagine will give the workforce the next ceiling. As rocky as that saga has left issues for the gamers, questioning when and if Rodgers will arrive, Rudolph has been a relaxing presence and somebody to regular the ship. Assuming Rodgers does signal, Rudolph will turn out to be the No. 2 quarterback with an analogous purpose. Backup quarterbacks get referred to as upon at a second’s discover, and Rudolph can come off the bench and run the Steelers’ offense as designed.
