Mason Rudolph is officially the Steelers’ primary backup quarterback for Week 1, slotting in behind Aaron Rodgers. This isn’t exactly a new development, as Rudolph held that same No. 2 spot heading into training camp. It seems his regular season experience is a huge factor, especially when you look at the rest of Pittsburgh’s QB room.
The Steelers have Will Howard at No. 3 and rookie Drew Allar down at No. 4, making it a pretty deep group. Head coach Mike McCarthy’s decision to stick with Rudolph over Howard likely came down to that experience. Howard apparently had some “sometimes sloppy preseason performance,” which definitely didn’t help his case against the guy who’s seen actual regular season action. You gotta wonder if they’re playing it safe, leaning on a known quantity instead of betting on raw talent early on.
But the QB spot isn’t the only place the Steelers are showing some uncertainty. At one of their starting cornerback positions, it’s a split decision, listing “Joey Porter Jr. or Asante Samuel Jr.” alongside Jamel Dean and Jalen Ramsey. Porter missed all of training camp on the physically unable to perform list, so that “or” makes sense. We’re also seeing split starting roles at tight end with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. And get this: Dylan Cook is listed as the starting right tackle ahead of first-round pick Max Iheanachor. That’s a huge statement, or a huge concern, depending on how you look at it.
As the Steelers kick off Week 1, these depth chart calls are definitely ones to watch. Will leaning on experience pay off, or will those “or” positions and a first-round pick on the bench come back to bite them? Time to see how it all shakes out on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply