ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 04: Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
With the return of Kenny Pickett on the horizon, Pittsburgh Steelers fans can rest assured that Mason Rudolph will be relegated back to where he belongs.
Coming off a Week 14 loss at the hands of Mitch Trubisky, the Pittsburgh Steelers were faced with a choice: start Trubisky against the Carolina Panthers, or take a gamble on Mason Rudolph?
The Steelers went for the safer option by choosing the former, but there were even Steelers players advocating for Rudolph to start. Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson said that he wanted to see him play before the Steelers chose Trubisky.
There are cases for both quarterbacks, but in the end, Trubisky won out and won the game. Fortunately, the poorly-handled quarterback battle can finally be put to rest, because Pickett is set to return to practice this week.
Steelers fans no longer need to choose between Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph with Kenny Pickett return
Although Kenny Pickett is the preferred No. 1 quarterback on the Steelers depth chart, opinions were divided on whether or not Rudolph has truly had a fair opportunity in Pittsburgh. The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly noted that Rudolph and Pickett possess comparable stats, yet the narrative around Pickett is much more forgiving.
All of these quarterbacks are coming up short against Ben Roethlisberger, which makes it difficult for each one looking to build a career in Pittsburgh. But if Rudolph and Pickett have similar stats and both need development, the biggest division could simply be their draft stock. Pickett went in the first round; Rudolph went in the third. Draft positioning influences a player’s NFL career for years beyond that initial assessment.
In Mike Tomlin’s first losing season at head coach, a rebuild year where the Steelers are working to adapt without Roethlisberger, Week 15 provided a unique opportunity for Rudolph to have a chance to prove himself. Ultimately, Trubisky got the gig, and now he will relinquish it to Pickett. And so Rudolph falls back down the depth chart and continues preparing for his chance, either on the Steelers or another NFL team.