PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are sticking with Mason Rudolph ahead of their pivotal regular-season finale against Baltimore.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Rudolph will make a third straight start for the Steelers even with Kenny Pickett expected to be available after recovering from right ankle surgery. Rudolph has been spectacular at times while throwing for 567 yards and two touchdowns during wins over Cincinnati and Seattle to help Pittsburgh keep its playoff chances alive.
The Steelers have multiple ways to reach the postseason, most of them predicated on beating the Ravens on Saturday. Baltimore clinched the top seed in the AFC by dismantling Miami on Sunday and could sit several regulars — including MVP candidate Lamar Jackson — with home-field advantage wrapped up.
Pittsburgh will prepare as if Jackson is playing and even if Jackson is given the day off, Rudolph will likely have to deal with a defense that’s allowed the fewest points in the league. Rudolph has certainly looked up to the challenge while providing a welcome (and long overdue) spark.
“He’s done a good job and we’ve done a good job in the most recent two weeks,” Tomlin said. “We’ve taken care of the ball. He’s taken care of the ball. We’ve scored points at a rate which we hadn’t done to this point this year. And with the urgency of the moment and because of those reasons, we’re going to leave the ball in his hands.”
Pickett hasn’t played since injuring his right ankle late in the first half of what became a 24-10 loss to Arizona on Dec. 3. He underwent “tightrope” surgery on the ankle shortly thereafter and returned to practice two weeks ago.