Rudolph in familiar spots as quarterback “chaos” circles Steelers

PITTSBURGH (Black & Gold Nation) — Since last season ended, there were times Steelers fans expected Justin Field to be the team’s starting quarterback. There were times when fans expected Russell Wilson. And times, maybe still hope, that it’s Aaron Rodgers. But as the team opened up the first of six optional workouts Tuesday, it’s Mason Rudolph atop the pecking order.

“He’s always been consistent of who he is and he has a hell of an opportunity right now, and so we’re all excited for him,” said Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth.

As the drama around Aaron Rodgers lingers on, Mason Rudolph opens up workouts as the team’s de facto top quarterback, ahead of sixth-round pick Will Howard. Pittsburgh drafted Rudolph in 2018. He’s spent all but one season with the team. Initially, he served as Ben Roethlisberger’s backup but left for an opportunity to start for the Tennessee Titans last year.

Tuesday, he was back on the south side wearing his number two jersey during the first day of OTAs blocking out the noise as many wonder and worry over the Steelers quarterback room.

“There’s been constant noise, that is the nature of the NFL,” he said. “So I’ve been used to that for a long time now. I can doing nothing but be the best I can be and help our team help our team get better this spring.”

During his first stint with the Steelers, Rudolph sat behind Ben Roethlisberger and in 2023 lost a three-way quarterback battle with Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky. Still, that season he played his best football. He earned a couple of late-season starts, winning three of four while completing 74% of his passes.

He returns to Pittsburgh with a clean slate and a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith.

“When any offense is at its best, you run the ball well, you’re play actioning, moving the pocket changing the launch point for the offensive line and then you’re taking a shot to playmakers,” he said. “And we have plenty of those.”

While Rudolph is the QB1 today, many questions about Aaron Rodgers’ future, and even Kirk Cousins’, linger. Last week, Art Rooney II said, “We’ll wait awhile longer” on his decision to play for the black and gold this fall.