The Pittsburgh Steelers are in an interesting predicament when it comes to who is going to be under center on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Rookie Kenny Pickett is the starting quarterback if he is cleared from the concussion protocols according to Head Coach Mike Tomlin, but the team faces a tough decision if the former University of Pittsburgh star is unable to go.
Steelers quarterback battles started in training camp and have continued to week 15. Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Mitch Trubisky played an overly aggressive game against the Baltimore Ravens and it cost the team a win, to the dismay of the head coach. The former Chicago Bears' second-overall pick's resume in Pittsburgh has not been good. His three interceptions against the Ravens add more blemishes, to say the least.
He had one nice moment in the black and gold filling in for Pickett against Tampa, but does he really deserve another shot?
Rudolph said he was told before Tuesday’s news conference that he would be involved in a competition this week if Pickett can’t play.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) December 14, 2022
The other option is Mason Rudolph. There has been lots of speculation about whether the franchise's third-round pick in 2018 will make his first start since a 16-16 tie in November of 2021.
Steelers OC Matt Canada Leaning Towards Trubisky
No coach will reveal their injury plans until they have to, but Canada certainly seemed to give Steeler Nation an idea of who will be starting at quarterback on Sunday.
"We’ve had two quarterbacks playing all year and Mason’s been a third that hasn't had a lot of reps at all," Canada told Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Obviously, Mitch has started a lot of football games, started games this year. Mason started games here for us in the past. You never want to be in this situation, but I think we’re in as good of a spot as we could be with where we're at. You just have to proceed forward and get ready to play.”
Rudolph and Trubisky split the number one reps at practice, but it sounds like Canada would like to stick with what's been more familiar recently.
Photo Credit: USA TODAY
The offensive coordinator didn't seem to think it was strange to have a quarterback controversy in Week 15, with regards to having the two share the job in practice.
"You still want to prepare your football team to get ready to play," he said. "I don't think it's that abnormal to get them both ready, give them reps. We’ll obviously have a plan with that, and we'll see where we're at as things come down with the protocol.”
For both Rudolph and Trubisky, if they do play, the interesting question is, are they playing for jobs in Pittsburgh next season?
Mark Kaboly, a longtime Steelers beat writer for The Athletic, thinks the former Pittsburgh draft pick is auditioning for a job in a new area code while Trubisky could still serve some purpose to the team if they still want him.
"If Rudolph starts or is a replacement for an ineffective Mitch Trubisky against the Panthers, he has a chance to turn that into a job next year, just not with the Steelers," Kaboly wrote. "It’s about whether the Steelers think he can be a good backup for Pickett. Last week’s three-interception performance against the Ravens wasn’t an argument in his favor. Trubisky might not want to stay around and play second fiddle to Pickett, but it is also not his choice, at least in 2023."
Steeler Nation and the coaching staff are pulling for Pickett to return to the field if he's cleared from protocol but the team faces a difficult decision as to who to start at quarterback if he's not.
Trubisky has already shown what he can do, and it's not great. Rudolph probably has earned enough to get a shot here, his teammates seem to like him.
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 22: Mitch Trubisky #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs off the field during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
So, Steeler Nation, should the Steelers turn to Rudolph to guide the sleigh against the Panthers? Do you think they should continue to see what Trubisky can do since he's under contract?
Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.
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