NEWS:Rudolph Wins Out: Steelers Continue with Their QB Selection Despite Pickett’s Clearance

Despite having little chance of winning the postseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to stick with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback. Coach Mike Tomlin announced on Monday that Rudolph will lead the team on Saturday in a crucial must-win regular-season game against the Baltimore Ravens, despite the fact that 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett was given the all-clear to play after having ankle surgery.

“Kenny’s availability is somewhat uncertain this week,” Tomlin stated on Monday. “Although I expect Mason Rudolph to be available for practice, we feel that Mason Rudolph gives us the best chance to succeed given the urgency of the situation.” Over the past two weeks, he has performed admirably, handling the ball with care and contributing to more scoring.

If the Steelers win and receive support from other teams during the final weekend of games, things grow easier for them, even if they might still qualify for the postseason with a loss in Baltimore. Rudolph took over as the starting quarterback for the Steelers in Week 15, and since then, he has led the offense to an average of 32 points and 432.5 yards per game. Mitch Trubisky was replaced. In the team’s most recent victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Rudolph showed off his skills by completing 18 of 24 passes for 274 yards and no picks.

Coach Tomlin applauded Rudolph’s performance, highlighting his aggressive style of play and confidence. The team’s recent success is mostly due to its willingness to take calculated risks in the pursuit of victories. Tomlin emphasized how important it is to continue the solid effort, especially in the lead-up to a challenging game in a hostile environment against the fierce Ravens.

The stats speak for themselves: Rudolph completed 68.5% of his passes for two touchdowns during his two starts, and his impressive QBRs of 70.9 and 79.1 speak for themselves. However, in his second season, Pickett has not fared well, completing 62% of his throws with a QBR of 38.8, six touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Despite Pickett’s medical clearance to play, Tomlin started Rudolph; he mentioned preparation and practice rep distribution as justifications for his decision. Tomlin declined to comment on the long-term plans with Pickett or whether he would return to start in the playoffs if the Steelers progress, preferring to focus on a day-by-day, week-by-week approach rather than speculate.

With the group hoping to triumph and extend their