Mike McCarthy just dropped a bomb about Mason Rudolph, saying the veteran QB “throws the ball better than I thought.” Yeah, you read that right. On Thursday, via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, McCarthy told reporters he’s “pleased” with Rudolph, adding, “He’s been impressive.” This isn’t just a casual compliment; it throws a serious wrench into the Steelers’ quarterback depth chart behind obvious starter Aaron Rodgers.
The Rudolph Resurrection Nobody Saw Coming
Let’s be real, Mason Rudolph has been a bit of a forgotten man. A third-round pick back in 2018, he’s got 34 career regular-season appearances and 19 starts under his belt. That’s real NFL game experience, folks! Compare that to Will Howard and Drew Allar, the other two signal-callers vying for a spot behind Rodgers, who have absolutely zero NFL game experience. McCarthy’s praise, that Rudolph “throws the ball better than I thought,” means he’s performing at a level that’s turning heads internally. It makes sense why McCarthy trusts Rudolph with the No. 2 job. The dude can play, and if Rodgers goes down, you need someone who knows the drill.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Roster Spots
So here’s the kicker: the Steelers have Aaron Rodgers, and then these three guys, Rudolph, Howard, and Allar. The big question is how many quarterbacks they’re actually gonna keep on the 53-man roster. Most teams don’t roll with four, it’s just unusual. That means one of these three is likely getting cut. Howard and Allar would have to clear waivers before hitting the practice squad. But what about Rudolph, the guy McCarthy is raving about? Some cynics out there are suggesting McCarthy is building a trade market, trying to get some value for Rudolph before having to make a tough cut. Or, they could get “creative,” cut Rudolph with a wink-nod deal to sign him back to the practice squad and elevate him as needed. Either way, something’s gotta give in that quarterback room, and with Rudolph suddenly looking “impressive,” the decision just got a whole lot more interesting for the Steelers.
The next few weeks for the Steelers’ quarterback room are going to be wild. Will they really carry four QBs? Will someone get traded? How will this all shake out? We’re all gonna be watching closely to see who makes the final cut for that crucial backup role.
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.
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