Mason Rudolph Injury News & Updates

Rudolph completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown while rushing once for minus-1 yard after replacing Aaron Rodgers (left wrist) in Sunday's 34-12 win over the Bengals.

Rudolph came into the game to start the third quarter after Rodgers hurt his non-throwing hand on Pittsburgh's penultimate offensive play of the first half. The backup quarterback's touchdown came on a five-yard pass to Kenneth Gainwell in the fourth quarter, matching Rodgers' 11-yard touchdown pass to Gainwell in the first quarter, and Pittsburgh's defense chipped in a pair of touchdowns in the lopsided victory. More clarity on Rodgers' status should surface in the coming days, as coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that Rodgers will be evaluated Monday morning, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. If Rodgers isn't available in Week 12 at Chicago, Rudolph would presumably get the start over recently healed rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard.

Rudolph completed six of eight passes for 36 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception, in a 19-10 preseason loss to Carolina on Thursday.

The Steelers played most of their starters for three drives, but they held out QB Aaron Rodgers and WR DK Metcalf, giving Rudolph a chance to play with the first-team offense and throw to a rotating cast of wide receivers. Rudolph failed to produce even a field goal attempt on three drives, while fellow Steelers quarterback Skylar Thompson concluded his strong preseason with 152 yards and a TD on 13 pass attempts Thursday night. Rudolph was considered safe in his backup job earlier this summer, especially after sixth-round pick Will Howard suffered a hand injury, but the Steelers may now want to keep Thompson around or even consider moving him ahead of Rudolph. Either way, Aaron Rodgers will start Week 1 against the Jets.

Rudolph is set to open the 2025 season in a backup capacity for the Steelers after the team signed Aaron Rodgers on Saturday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Rudolph opened OTAs as the Steelers' No. 1 option at quarterback, but Rodgers had been continually linked to the team during the offseason. A one-year deal between Rodgers and Pittsburgh finally materialized Saturday, meaning that Rudolph will be left to compete with Will Howard for the team's No. 2 quarterback job ahead of the 2025 campaign. Rudolph will likely continue to handle a slightly elevated role for the remainder of OTAs while Rodgers acclimates to the team. However, Rudolph expressed openness to the impending move to a backup role, especially once training camp begins next month.

Rudolph operated as Pittsburgh's top quarterback during Tuesday's opening OTAs practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.

Rudolph spent the 2024 campaign in Tennessee before reuniting with the Steelers on a two-year, $7.5 million contract early in free agency, and he currently appears comfortable as the leader of a quarterback room that also houses rookie sixth-rounder Will Howard and former Dolphins third-stringer Skylar Thompson. While Rudolph boasts familiarity with coach Mike Tomlin and has played at a capable level with Pittsburgh in the past, he faces the challenge of adapting to a new scheme under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, as well as building chemistry with new top wideout DK Metcalf, who was absent from Tuesday's practice. The Steelers remain linked to free agent Aaron Rodgers through rumor and speculation, but nothing official has yet materialized beyond the veteran having visited with the team in March.

Rudolph is signing a two-year contract with the Steelers, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

The 2018 third-round pick will return to Pittsburgh after a one-year detour to Tennessee, where he went 1-4 as a starter while completing 64.0 percent of his passes for 6.7 YPA (with nine TDs and nine INTs on 228 pass attempts). Rudolph was better than Will Levis but subpar by pretty much any other standard, likely putting him in a backup role for 2025 unless things go horribly wrong for the Steelers over the next couple months. They're reportedly trying to sign Aaron Rodgers, and if that doesn't happen they may consider re-signing Russell Wilson or trading for Kirk Cousins. The initial report on Rudolph's contract has it at two years and $8 million, with $4.5 million guaranteed, putting him in the middle of the market for backup quarterbacks.

Rudolph completed seven of nine passes for 70 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Sunday's 23-14 loss to the Texans.

Will Levis returned to the starting role for the Titans, though Rudolph rotated in for three possessions to close out the first half and begin the second. He accounted for two long gains of 24 and 17 yards, though he ultimately wasn't afforded much opportunity to get into a rhythm. Rudolph didn't make a particularly compelling case to be in the starting mix for Tennessee or any other NFL team in 2025, though he is a capable backup and should land a contract relatively early in the offseason.

Will Levis will start Sunday's season finale against the Texans, per Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site, but Rudolph will also see action in the contest.

The prospect of a signal caller time-share Sunday isn't appealing from a fantasy perspective, however in a week with multiple moving parts at the QB position due to injuries or starters being limited or rested this weekend, Levis and/or Rudolph represent lineup options for those in deep leagues scrambling for a Week 18 fill in.

Both Rudolph and Will Levis are in line to play in Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Texans, per Titans head coach Brian Callahan, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports.

Rudolph took over as the Titans' starting quarterback in Week 16 , and he has put up a 3:4 TD:INT along with a 64.6 percent completion rate and an average of 222.5 passing yards per contest in two games since. Callahan cited Tennessee's 0-2 record since the switch as part of the reason for the decision to deploy both QBs while adding, "It's always a position that you want to have an answer for. We have to make sure we have all the looks that we need," per McCormick. With both Rudolph and Levis appearing likely to get snaps behind center Sunday, neither profiles as an appealing asset in fantasy.

Rudolph completed 19 of 31 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Jaguars. He added five rushes for 23 yards.

Rudolph drew his second consecutive start and had a mixed performance relative to his opportunities in 2024. Positively, he only turned the ball over once, though he was also sacked three times. While Rudolph completed a decent percentage of his passes, he was unable to push the ball down the field until the game was out of reach with both of his completions of more than 20 yards coming with under five minutes of game time remaining. He'll likely remain the starter for Tennessee's season finale against Houston, though his status will be worth monitoring during the week.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Tuesday that Rudolph will start for the team Sunday against Jacksonville, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Rudolph took over the starting job from Will Levis on Sunday against the Colts and threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, though he also had three interceptions. Despite the uneven performance, Rudolph will stick in the starting role for at least another week, and he'll have a soft matchup against the Jaguars, who rank last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (263.0) on the season. Meanwhile, Levis will presumably remain Tennessee's backup QB after beginning the season as the team's No. 1 signal-caller.

Rudolph completed 23 of 34 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions and rushed four times for three yards in the Titans' 38-30 loss to the Colts on Sunday. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.

Rudolph earned the Week 16 start after a spirited second-half performance as an in-game replacement for an ineffective Will Levis, and although he had his moments Sunday, he also sabotaged his team with turnovers. Rudolph's afternoon started in encouraging fashion with a 38-yard scoring strike to Calvin Ridley in the first quarter, and he would add a six-yard touchdown toss to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the fourth, and he also threw a two-point conversion toss to Chigoziem Okonkwo following a Tyjae Spears rushing score. However, in between, Rudolph threw a pair of picks near midfield, and his final interception came on a game-ending Hail Mary. Rudolph did connect with eight different targets overall and was more successful in producing chunk gains through the air compered to Levis, so the former is likely to remain the starter for a Week 17 road matchup against the Jaguars.

Rudolph will start Sunday's game against the Colts and may also start the final two weeks of the season, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports.

Titans coach Brian Callahan made the unsurprising announcement Wednesday, saying Rudolph is the new starting QB but will be evaluated from week to week. He'll likely start the final three games unless he gets injured or turns in a truly horrible performance.

Rudolph is expected to take over as the Titans' starting quarterback in Sunday's game against the Colts, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Fowler's report merely notes that Tennessee is "planning to make a switch at quarterback," but unless the Titans elect to install practice-squad member Trevor Siemian as their starter, Rudolph is the logical candidate to step in for Will Levis, who will head to the bench after turning the ball over four times before being removed midway through the third quarter of this past Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals. Though the 25-year-old Levis has youth and his status as a recent second-round draft pick working in his favor, the Titans may have already determined that he's not their long-term answer at quarterback after he turned the ball over 17 times (12 interceptions, five lost fumbles) through 11 starts this season. Rudolph, meanwhile, brings more experience to the table but hasn't built upon the late-season success he enjoyed as Pittsburgh's starter in 2023. Over his five appearances with Tennessee -- including three starts from Weeks 7 through 9 while Levis was out with a shoulder injury -- Rudolph has compl

Rudolph completed 21 of 26 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals. He added two rushes for 14 yards.

Rudolph took over under center after Will Levis was benched early in the third quarter. He was more effective than Levis, though his two touchdown passes came in garbage with the latter coming on the final play of the game. Levis has been the starter for Tennessee when healthy, though Rudolph may get his chance to lead the team to close out the campaign.

With Will Levis (shoulder) announced as the Week 10 starter Sunday against the Chargers, Rudolph will head back to the bench as Tennessee's QB2, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Rudolph started the Titans' past three games, going 1-2 as a starter, while completing 67 of 111 passes (60.4 percent) for 721 yards (6.5 yards per attempt), four touchdowns and four interceptions. He added a 13-61-1 rushing line.

Rudolph completed 20 of 33 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 20-17 overtime win over the Patriots.

Rudolph drew his third straight start in the absence of Will Levis (shoulder) and had his most effective performance by averaging 7.3 yards per attempt while completing three passes of at least 20 yards. He also recorded multiple touchdowns for the first time on the campaign, delivering scores of nine and six yards. Rudolph has been serviceable under center but could give way to Levis in Week 10, as Levis managed limited practices throughout the week leading up to Sunday's win.

Rudolph is set to start Sunday against New England with Will Levis (shoulder) inactive, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Rudolph will lead the Tennessee offense for the third straight game as Levis continues to recover from an AC joint sprain. He's struggled overall, recording three total touchdowns as opposed to four turnovers. Those did come in tough matchups on the road against the Bills and Lions, so Rudolph may see slightly improved results in his first home start against the Patriots.

Rudolph is expected to start Sunday's Week 9 matchup against New England with Will Levis (shoulder) likely to miss another game, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Levis continues to recover from the AC joint sprain in his shoulder that he suffered in Week 4. As such, Rudolph appears set to start under center for the third straight game. Though he's averaged 240.5 passing yards while filling in for Levis over the past two weeks, Rudolph has a poor 2:3 TD:INT during that span, and he'll likely give way to Levis once the latter is ready to return.

Rudolph completed 22 of 38 passes for 266 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 52-14 loss to the Titans. He added four rushes for 29 yards and an additional touchdown.

Rudolph looked prepared to match Jared Goff and the Lions, as he overcame an early interception to lead the Titans to a pair of touchdown drives by early in the second quarter. He found himself in the end zone to conclude both, first on an 11-yard scramble and then with a five-yard toss to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Rudolph and the Titans faded quickly from there, however, as he competed nine of 15 passes for only 46 yards across the final two quarters. He has offered a modest improvement in production for Tennessee's skill-position players, but it seems likely that the Titans will turn back to Will Levis (shoulder) once the latter is healthy.

Rudolph will start for the Titans on Sunday against the Lions with Will Levis (shoulder) inactive.

Rudolph drew his first start with the Titans in Week 7 in a tough matchup against the Bills. He took to the air 40 times but averaged only 5.4 yards per attempt, a mark he will look to improve upon in a more favorable matchup. However, after the departure of DeAndre Hopkins, the Titans' wide receiver corps is among the worst in the league, which won't help Rudolph's cause.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Wednesday that Will Levis (shoulder) will "probably" get another week to rest, in which case Rudolph will be called upon to start Sunday on the road against Detroit, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Rudolph is coming off a tough showing during Tennessee's 34-10 loss to the Bills in Week 7, his first start as a Titan. Versus Buffalo, Rudolph completed 25 of 40 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also lost a fumble and rushed five times for 13 yards. With DeAndre Hopkins (lower leg) having been dealt to Kansas City, Rudolph will now only have Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Jha'Quan Jackson available at the wide recover position against a Lions defense that's allowed the fourth-fewest passing touchdowns to opposing teams on the season, if he indeed draws another start with Levis sidelined.

Rudolph completed 25 of 40 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Bills. He added five rushes for 13 yards with a lost fumble.

Rudolph drew his first start as a Titan with Will Levis (shoulder) sidelined. He got off to a relatively strong start, leading the team to a pair of scoring drives by early in the second quarter. Across those two possessions, he combined to complete nine of 11 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. However, Rudolph failed to lead Tennessee to any points after that while leading a very inefficient passing offense. Rudolph could be under center again for a Week 8 matchup against the Lions, which would present a more favorable matchup.

Rudolph is in line to start Sunday's game against Buffalo with Will Levis (shoulder) officially inactive.

Reports emerged Saturday that Rudolph would draw his first start as a Titan on Sunday as Levis deals with a shoulder issue. Rudolph has made only one appearance this season, which came in relief in Week 4 against Miami, during which he completed nine of 17 passes for 85 yards. It's also possible that Rudolph will get an extended look under center, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Levis' injury typically comes with a 4-to-5 week recovery timeline.

Rudolph will start Sunday's game against the Bills, Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com reports.

It's unclear if the Titans are officially moving off Will Levis as the starter, or if the shoulder injury he sustained against the Dolphins in Week 4, and then played through against the Colts two weeks later, has become more of a nuisance. Rudolph has been uninspiring in stints as a starter, first with the Steelers over the course of four seasons, and most recently in relief of Levis in the aforementioned contest (nine for 17 for 85 passing yards). Theoretically a more seasoned game manager behind center can help Tennessee be in better position to win football games, but it's hard to imagine the likes of Calvin Ridley or DeAndre Hopkins seeing either of their fantasy profiles rising significantly.

Rudolph will return to a backup role Sunday against the Colts, as coach Brian Callahan confirmed Friday that Will Levis will start, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Rudolph entered in relief after Levis hurt his shoulder in the first quarter of Tennessee's 31-12 Week 4 win over the Dolphins, but Levis has regained health coming out of the Week 5 bye. Rudolph will remain next in line should the Titans opt for a change under center, be it due to another injury or performance-related reasons.

Rudolph completed nine of 17 passes for 85 yards, without a touchdown or interception, after replacing the injured Will Levis (shoulder) in the first quarter of Monday's 31-12 win over the Dolphins.

Rudolph's turnover-free football was a breath of fresh air as the Titans rode their defense and running game to their first win of the season. Coach Brian Callahan said after the game that the decision to ride Rudolph was purely injury-related, per Turron Davenport of ESPN.com. With a Week 5 bye to recover, Levis will likely reclaim the starting job in Week 6 against the Colts. Levis threw his sixth interception of the season prior to getting hurt, so his leash may be getting shorter, though Rudolph didn't exactly light it up Monday.

Rudolph looks cemented as the Titans' top backup to Will Levis following the team's trade of Malik Willis to the Packers on Monday, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.

Rudolph inked with Tennessee back in March and has looked consistent throughout training camp and the preseason, and the Titans' coaching staff has clearly seen enough to prefer him over Willis as the No. 2 option behind Levis. Across four starts with the Steelers last season, including one playoff game against Buffalo, Rudolph threw for 945 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Rudolph doesn't figure to see much action this season, barring an injury to Levis, but if he does have to take the field he should be able to steadily pilot Tennessee's offense.

Rudolph completed 10 of 17 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Saturday's 16-15 preseason win over the Seahawks. He added four rushes for 15 yards.

Rudolph entered the game after Malik Willis, with his first drive coming with five minutes left in the second quarter. He immediately led a touchdown drive, during which he went 3-for-4 for 40 yards. Rudolph and Willis are competing for the backup job, though the former appears to be the favorite for the role to begin the regular season.

Rudolph is listed ahead of Malik Willis on the Titans' first unofficial depth chart, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Rudolph reportedly split reps evenly with Willis to begin training camp but has since begun to separate himself as the winner of the backup quarterback competition in Tennessee. Wyatt reports that Rudolph has completed 84.2 percent of his pass attempts in camp.

Rudolph has split reps evenly with Malik Willis to kick off training camp and will be given a chance to win the No. 2 job, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Will Levis (foot) beat out Malik Willis for the starting role under center in Tennessee last season, and now Rudolph is slated to compete with the latter for a backup role. The 29-year-old spent his first four seasons in Pittsburgh and ended up throwing for 719 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions across four games in 2023. He even finished the regular season with three consecutive wins. His competition, Willis, is entering his third year with the Titans after being selected in the third-round in 2022.

The Titans are signing Rudolph to a one-year, $3.6 million contract Wednesday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Rudolph could be the favorite to beat out Malik Willis for the top backup spot behind Will Levis (foot), considering his solid showing in Pittsburgh last year. He led the Steelers to three consecutive wins to close out the regular season, before the team suffered a wild-card playoff loss at the hands of Buffalo. The veteran's presence will provide Tennessee with an experienced signal-caller in an otherwise young QB room.

Rudolph has free-agent interest from multiple teams, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

The Steelers presumably aren't one of those teams, considering they recently reached an agreement with QB Russell Wilson and have 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett under contract for at least two more years. Rudolph stepped in for an injured Pickett at the end of 2023 and continued to start once Pickett was healthy, leading Pittsburgh to three straight wins at the end of the regular season before a loss at Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs. The 2018 third-round pick went 8-4-1 as a starter in his six years with the Steelers, completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 6.7 YPA with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions (on 458 career pass attempts). Rudolph won't add much on the ground (93 career rushing yards, zero TDs), but his career passing numbers are at least toward the high end of what's expected for a backup quarterback, with other positives including a low sack rate (4.6 percent) and just one lost fumble.

GM Omar Khan said Thursday that Rudolph knows the Steelers want to re-sign him, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Kaboly and Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via 93.7 The Fan) both have suggested that the Steelers prefer to re-sign Rudolph and move forward with him and Kenny Pickett as the quarterbacks for 2024, though Khan didn't rule out the possibility of acquiring a veteran starter or drafting a QB. It sounds like Rudolph would get the chance to compete for a starting job if he re-signs, as Khan said Thursday that Picket will be subject to competition even though the Steelers believe in him. The team is sending mixed signals, but it does at least seem clear that Rudolph and the Steelers have already discussed a contract extension. The 28-year-old replaced an injured Pickett late last season and then kept the starting job even after Pickett was healthy, leading Pittsburgh to three straight wins at the end of the regular season before falling to the Bills in the first round of the playoffs.

Rudolph completed 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Steelers' 34-17 wild-card loss to the Bills on Monday afternoon. He also rushed twice for 16 yards.

Rudolph's final numbers were much better than what could been foreseen during a fairly disastrous first half for the Steelers as a whole. The fifth-year signal-caller threw an end-zone interception early in the second quarter to contribute to the struggles, but he was able to bounce back to lead a short five-play scoring drive he capped off with 10-yard touchdown toss to Diontae Johnson shortly before halftime. Rudolph subsequently recorded another scoring toss when he hit Calvin Austin from seven yards out early in the fourth quarter, but that would be the extent of Pittsburgh's points. Rudolph is slated to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but his solid play over the last four games, including Monday's season-ending loss, could certainly lead to the Steelers offering him an opportunity to return.

Rudolph and the Steelers will play their wild-card matchup against the Bills on Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET after the game was postponed Saturday due to extreme weather conditions.

It doesn't appear as if Monday's conditions in Buffalo will be all that much better from a weather perspective, though the high gusts will be down a bit and fans attending the game should at least be out of harm's way for the most part. With the weather still a factor, expect Rudolph and the Steelers to likely play it safe and rely heavily on the duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on the ground, a formula that's been working in the Steelers' last three games with Rudolph at the helm, all resulting in wins.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Rudolph will remain the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's wild-card game in Buffalo, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

To little surprise, Tomlin said he's "staying with the hot hand" after Rudolph helped lead Pittsburgh to three consecutive victories to close out the regular season and clinch a postseason berth. Rudolph was supremely efficient in the three starts, completing 53 of 71 passes (74.6 percent) for 716 yards (10.1 per attempt) and three touchdowns while committing just one turnover (a lost fumble). Though 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett appears to have fully healed from his right high-ankle sprain, his uninspiring numbers as the team's starter earlier in the campaign along with Rudolph's tremendous success to close out of the regular season made it easy decision for Tomlin to stick with the latter signal-caller.

Rudolph completed 18 of 20 passes for 152 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Saturday's 17-10 win over the Ravens. He also lost a fumble.

Rudolph and the Steelers were playing in rainy conditions in Baltimore, which led to a conservative offensive gameplan. His game was fairly unremarkable as a result, except for a 71-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson -- a play that put Pittsburgh ahead for good. The Steelers still need additional help to reach the postseason, but Rudolph posted a 3-0 record as a starter to close the regular season, which should also boost his outlook for the 2024 season and beyond.

Rudolph is set to start Saturday's game against the Ravens, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

Tomlin -- via Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site -- noted that the availability of Kenny Pickett "is less in question this week," but he also revealed that Rudolph is in line to start a third consecutive game. Rudolph more than held his own the last two weeks, but he will undoubtedly face a tough test against a Baltimore defense allowing a league-low 16.4 points per contest.

Rudolph completed 18 of 24 passes for 274 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 30-23 win over the Seahawks.

Rudolph drew his second consecutive start for the Steelers, and he's now been victorious on both occasions. The team relied heavily on its rushing attack, but Rudolph managed to make plays when called upon, highlighted by several long completions to George Pickens as well as a 42-yard connection to Diontae Johnson that led to a go-ahead touchdown for Pittsburgh late in the third quarter. Kenny Pickett (ankle) continues to recover, though it's hard to see the team turning away from Rudolph and the success he's had across the last two weeks heading into a pivotal Week 18 matchup against Baltimore.

Rudolph is slated to start Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com report.

Rudolph, who completed 17 of his 27 passing attempts for 290 yards and two touchdowns while rushing twice for four yards in the Steelers' 34-11 win over the Bengals in Week 16, is thus slated to make his second consecutive start, with Kenny Pickett dealing with an ankle issue. In that context, Rudolph represents a fantasy lineup option for those who roster Pickett or are otherwise in need of QB help in Week 17.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Rudolph is "scheduled to be" the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's game in Seattle, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin stopped short of confirming that Rudolph would direct the offense come Sunday, as the Steelers will wait and see how Kenny Pickett (ankle) improves from a mobility standpoint as the week rolls along before the team's quarterback situation is crystallized. While Pickett missed a third straight game and while Mitch Trubisky was demoted to the backup role, Rudolph got the chance to make his first start since 2021 in this past Saturday's contest against the Bengals and made the most of the opportunity. Rudolph completed 17 of 27 pass attempts for 290 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers in the Steelers' 34-11 win, with his yardage total marking a season high for any Pittsburgh quarterback.

Rudolph completed 17 of 27 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns while rushing twice for four yards in Saturday's 34-11 win over the Bengals.

Rudolph's first start of the season got off to an ideal start, as his first throw was an 86-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens. He led a touchdown drive on the next possession as well, which Calvin Austin capped with a seven-yard touchdown run, and Rudolph ultimately racked up 193 passing yards in the first half while leading the Steelers to a 24-0 lead. Pittsburgh's offense largely cooled down after halftime, though Rudolph helped the Steelers pull away with a 66-yard touchdown pass to Pickens in the third quarter. Given how effective Rudolph looked in his first start since Week 10 of the 2021 season, he could be in contention to remain under center even if Kenny Pickett (ankle) is healthy enough to return in Week 17 against the Seahawks.

Rudolph will start Saturday's game against the Bengals, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

With Kenny Pickett (ankle) ruled out for the contest by coach Mike Tomlin on Thursday, Rudolph is slated to make his first start in nearly two seasons, which sets the stage for Mitch Trubisky to serve as the Steelers' No. 2 QB on Saturday. Now that his Week 16 assignment has been confirmed, Rudolph represents a fantasy option for those who had been relying on Pickett or are otherwise in need of signal caller help in deeper formats this weekend.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that the Steelers are currently planning for Rudolph to start Saturday's divisional matchup against the Bengals, though Kenny Pickett (ankle) hasn't been ruled out, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Rudolph has surpassed Mitch Trubisky, whom he took over for in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to the Colts, on Pittsburgh's depth chart. Still, the team is reportedly holding out hope for the chance that Pickett could prove healthy enough to return to the lineup. In limited action versus Indianapolis, Rudolph completed two of just three passes for three yards.

Rudolph completed two of three passes for three yards in Saturday's 30-13 loss to the Colts.

Rudolph entered the game late in the fourth quarter in relief of Mitch Trubisky, so there's little to take away from his performance. However, coach Mike Tomlin declined to name a starting quarterback for a Week 16 matchup against the Bengals, per Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com. If Kenny Pickett (ankle) is unable to return, Rudolph could draw his first start of the campaign in Pittsburgh's final chance at making the postseason.

Rudolph is active for the Steelers' matchup with the Patriots on Thursday Night Football, Teresa Varley of the team's official website reports.

Rudolph has operated as the team's emergency quarterback a few times this season, but with Kenny Pickett (ankle) unavailable for Week 14, Rudolph will be Pittsburgh's backup behind Mitch Trubisky. The quarterback hasn't appeared in a game since the 2021 campaign.

Rudolph (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Texans, but he'll dress and serve as the emergency quarterback, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

For a fourth straight week, Rudolph will technically be inactive but is eligible to play if both Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky are forced out of the game. Rudolph didn't appear in any games last year, but he's played in 17 contests since being drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Rudolph (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's contest against the Raiders.

For the third straight week, Rudolph will be the emergency quarterback. Rudolph's role as the No. 3 quarterback is seemingly solidified with Mitchell Trubisky serving as the backup to Kenny Pickett.

Rudolph (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against San Francisco, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky were competing for the team's backup role behind Kenny Pickett this offseason and it seems as if Trubisky has won the job for now. The 28-year-old's next chance to be active on game day will come in Week 2 against Cleveland.

Rudolph completed three of seven pass attempts for 15 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing twice for three yards during Thursday's 24-0 preseason win over Atlanta.

Rudolph was efficient during the Steelers' first two preseason games but took a step back Thursday, while Mitch Trubisky was productive for a second consecutive matchup. Trubisky is likely the favorite to serve as the No. 2 quarterback in Pittsburgh now that the preseason has concluded, but Rudolph could still be in the mix to make the 53-man roster if the team keeps three quarterbacks on the roster heading into the regular season.

Rudolph completed five of seven pass attempts for 52 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing twice for 12 yards during Saturday's 27-15 preseason win over the Bills.

Rudolph has been impressive over his first two preseason appearances this year, but Mitch Trubisky also turned in a solid performance Saturday after struggling in the opener. While Rudolph still appears to be the No. 3 option in the quarterback room, he'll likely make the 53-man roster if the team opts to begin the regular season with three signal callers.

Rudolph completed seven of 12 pass attempts for 132 yards and a touchdown while rushing twice for 15 yards during Friday's 27-17 preseason win over the Buccaneers.

Starting quarterback Kenny Pickett completed six of his seven pass attempts during Friday's matchup, and although Rudolph was less efficient, he led the Steelers' four quarterbacks in passing yards and had the longest pass of the game, a 67-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin in the third quarter. Rudolph isn't in the mix for the starting job ahead of the 2023 campaign, but it's possible he challenges Mitch Trubisky for the No. 2 job if he continues to impress during the preseason.

The Steelers re-signed Rudolph to a one-year contract Monday, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

A 2018 third-round pick, Rudolph heads back to Pittsburgh after making 10 starts in four years with the team. He sports a career 61.5 percent completion rate with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Rudolph will try to push Mitch Trubisky for backup duties behind Kenny Pickett.

Rudolph is visiting the Steelers on Tuesday and could be re-signed, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

The Steelers selected Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 Draft, and he appeared in 17 games over his first three seasons, completing 61.5 percent of his passes for 2,366 yards and a 16:11 TD:INT. The 27-year-old spent the 2022 campaign as Pittsburgh's No. 3 QB and dressed for one game but didn't record any snaps. If he re-signs, Rudolph figures to compete with undrafted rookie Tanner Morgan for a similar role behind Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky.

Rudolph is slated to back up Mitch Trubisky in Sunday's game against the Panthers, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Trubisky will get the starting nod for the Steelers on Sunday, with Kenny Pickett still in the concussion protocol. As a result, Rudolph will be active (as the team's No. 2 QB) for the first time this season.

With Kenny Pickett (listed as doubtful) still in the NFL's concussion protocol, Mitch Trubisky is expected to start Sunday's game against the Panthers rather than Rudolph, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rudolph and Trubisky split practice reps this past week, but it looks as though Trubisky will get the starting nod Sunday. Assuming Pickett is inactive versus Carolina, Rudolph would be in line to suit up as Pittsburgh's No. 2 QB in Week 15.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Friday that he won't make a decision on the Steelers' starting quarterback between Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky for Sunday's game in Carolina until Saturday with Kenny Pickett (concussion) doubtful to play, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Pickett entered the concussion protocol during last Sunday's 16-14 loss to the Ravens and hasn't logged more than a limited practice this week. With the rookie signal-caller likely to be inactive this weekend, Rudolph is poised to be active himself for the first time this season. Rudolph and Trubisky split first-team reps Wednesday through Friday, so Tomlin has all the intel he needs to make a call between the two. If Rudolph ends up being the starter Sunday, he'll bring career marks of 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 6.2 yards per attempt in 17 appearances (10 starts) since he was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2017 draft.

Rudolph (coach's decision) will be inactive for Sunday's season-opening matchup against the Bengals, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

After initially being labeled as the No. 2 quarterback on the Week 1 depth chart, Rudolph has since been moved to the third spot behind expected starter Mitch Trubisky and rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he doesn't anticipate dressing three quarterbacks Sunday, leaving Rudolph as the odd man out. Barring injuries, Rudolph figures to be a regular on the inactive list.

Rudolph is listed as the Steelers' No. 3 quarterback on the team's most recent Week 1 depth chart released Tuesday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The Steelers featured Rudolph as their No. 2 quarterback on the first Week 1 depth chart that was released Monday, but Mike Garafolo of NFL Network suggests that the listing was an error. Rudolph was the third quarterback to enter the Steelers' final two preseason contests, signaling that he was on track to enter the regular season behind both Mitch Trubisky and rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett on the depth chart. Head coach Mike Tomlin will clarify the Steelers' quarterback situation when he meets with the media later Tuesday, at which time Trubisky will likely be formally named the starter and Pickett the top backup. The Steelers aren't expected to keep three quarterbacks active most weeks, so Rudolph could quickly become a regular on the inactive list.

Pittsburgh lists Rudolph as its No. 2 quarterback on the first regular-season depth chart that was released Monday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Meanwhile, Mitch Trubisky sits atop the depth chart, and though head coach Mike Tomlin hasn't yet announced a starter for the Week 1 game in Cincinnati, the expectation is that Trubisky will get the nod. Rudolph's placement on the depth chart ahead of rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett is perhaps more surprising, given that Rudolph worked with the third-string offense during Pittsburgh's preseason finale. It's possible that Rudolph is being listed second on the depth chart in deference to his status as a veteran, and Pickett may be the likelier candidate among the two signal-callers to pick up a start if Trubisky is benched or misses time at any point in 2022.

Rudolph completed 17 of 21 pass attempts for 127 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions during the Steelers' 16-15 preseason win over the Jaguars on Saturday.

Rudolph was the third quarterback to enter Saturday's matchup for the Steelers, but he led the team's signal-callers in playing time since he was on the field for the entire second half. The 2018 third-rounder was efficient for a second consecutive week, and he threw a go-ahead touchdown pass with under a minute remaining in the matchup. While Rudolph's preseason play has been strong, he worked mainly with the Steelers' third-team offense this week, while Kenny Pickett has played primarily with the second-stringers. Rudolph's strong results during the preseason strengthen his case for a spot on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster, but it's possible that he'll be forced to settle for the No. 3 job under center to begin the regular season.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Rudolph is set to close out Saturday's preseason exhibition against the Jaguars behind Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.

In last week's preseason opener against the Seahawks, Rudolph completed nine-of-15 passes for 93 yards and one score while working behind Trubisky. The 2018 third-rounder is in line to play behind Pickett (a 2022 first-round pick) for the team's upcoming contest against the Jaguars on Saturday, after Rudolph mainly worked with Pittsburgh's third-team offense throughout practice this week, per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. With reference to Saturday's QB pecking order, head coach Mike Tomlin communicated that he wants Pickett to experience "more varsity action," while Rudolph is a player the coaching staff has familiarity with. Regardless, it seems like Trubisky is the presumed starter while the immediate backup job is still up in the air.

Rudolph worked primarily with the Steelers' third-team offense during Monday's practice session, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Rudolph appeared to be the No. 2 option at quarterback over the first few weeks of training camp and was the second quarterback to take the field during Saturday's preseason opener against Seattle. All three of Pittsburgh's signal-callers played well Saturday, including Rudolph, who completed nine of 15 pass attempts for 93 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. However, rookie Kenny Pickett drew most of the snaps with the second-team offense at practice Monday. The team's coaching staff said that Pickett's advancement Monday was pre-planned rather than resulting from his play Saturday. Mitch Trubisky seems to be the frontrunner for the starting job under center, and it's safe to wonder whether Rudolph will be able to keep pace for the No. 2 job -- or a spot on the 53-man roster -- if Pickett and Trubisky continue to perform well.

Rudolph completed nine of 15 pass attempts for 93 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 32-25 preseason win over the Seahawks.

Rudolph was the second Steelers quarterback to enter Saturday's preseason opener, and he connected with rookie receiver George Pickens for a 26-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone late in the first quarter. Rudolph has had some reps with the first-team offense over the first few weeks of training camp, but Mitch Trubisky has looked like the frontrunner for the starting job under center. However, Rudolph certainly didn't hurt his case with his efficient performance against Seattle.

Rudolph said Tuesday that he expects to get reps with the first-team offense during practice in the coming days, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The Steelers have given Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett work with the starters among the first few days of camp, but both of those quarterbacks have shown some signs of inconsistency. Rudolph has also experienced some struggles early in training camp, but he appears to be firmly in the mix for the starting job under center ahead of the regular season. The 27-year-old connected with rookie Calvin Austin on a deep ball down the left sideline to end Tuesday's practice session, and Rudolph should have a chance to build a rapport with the team's starters in the near future. Rudolph was believed to be on the roster bubble earlier, but he's making a case for a starting role now that training camp is underway.

Rudolph isn't guaranteed a roster spot with the Steelers in 2022 after the team drafted Kenny Pickett with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Rudolph will likely be in consideration for the starting quarterback job during camp, but Mitch Trubisky and Pickett seem like the much stronger options in the competition. While the 26-year-old Rudolph initially appeared to be in line for the No. 2 job to begin the season, Kaboly reports that the Oklahoma State product could struggle to make Pittsburgh's 53-man roster.

Rudolph will begin OTAs as the Steelers' backup quarterback after Mitchell Trubisky agreed to a two-year deal with the team Monday, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Rudolph looked like he had a chance to serve as Pittsburgh's starter under center after Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement earlier in the offseason, but Trubisky now will be the clear favorite to take the starting job after spending a year behind Josh Allen in Buffalo. After filling in during 10 games in 2019, Rudolph has made seven appearances across the last two seasons and has completed 60 of 101 passes for 601 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing 12 times for 47 yards.

Rudolph could be the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2022, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Ben Roethlisberger is expected to retire, while Rudolph is under contract with the Steelers through 2022 thanks to a one-year extension (signed last spring) worth slightly more than $4 million -- decent money for a backup but far from what most starters make. Of course, Rudolph's odds of starting will depend on the alternatives as much as anything else, and it isn't yet clear if Pittsburgh will make a move for any of the high-profile, disgruntled, veteran QBs that may be available this offseason. Even if they don't, Rudolph won't necessarily be a lock to start, potentially facing competition from Dwayne Haskins, Joshua Dobbs or someone new who the Steelers bring in.

Rudolph completed 35 of 58 passes for 277 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing five times for 53 yards across two appearances during the 2021 regular season.

Rudolph made one start for the Steelers in 2021 after Ben Roethlisberger tested positive for COVID-19, and he had plenty of volume with 50 pass attempts in the Week 10 tie against the Lions. He made an appearance in relief during the team's Week 16 matchup against Kansas City and should remain the top backup heading into the playoffs. Roethlisberger has publicly expressed that he's weighing retirement following the 2021 campaign, so Rudolph could have a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job in Pittsburgh next year.

Rudolph will return to a backup role Sunday against the Chargers after Ben Roethlisberger (illness) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.

Rudolph served as a spot starter in Sunday's Week 10 tie against Detroit and completed 30 of 50 passes for 242 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Although he performed relatively well in his interim role, he should remain in a reserve role as long as Roethlisberger is healthy.

Rudolph completed 30 of 50 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 16-16 tie against Detroit.

Rudolph got a spot start in the place of Ben Roethlisberger (illness), though his effort was uninspiring even in a positive matchup. He averaged only 4.8 yards per attempt and regularly missed throws to open receivers, including an overthrow to Kalen Ballage late in the first quarter with the result being an interception. More positively, Rudolph did manage to lead the Steelers to a touchdown on the first drive of the game, which he capped with a nine-yard pass to James Washington. Rudolph remains in line to start in Week 11 against the Chargers should Roethlisberger fail to clear medical protocols and remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Rudolph is in line to start Sunday's game against the Lions after Ben Roethlisberger (undisclosed) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Rudolph has yet to take the field in 2021, but he'll draw the start on short notice against Detroit. In his lone start for the Steelers last year, he completed 22 of 39 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Dwayne Haskins will presumably serve as the No. 2 option with Roethlisberger sidelined.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Rudolph will not suit up for Friday's preseason game against the Panthers, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

As Pryor notes, Rudolph joining Ben Roethlisberger on the bench Friday is an indication that he's locked up the No. 2 quarterback role for Pittsburgh. Dwayne Haskins will start the exhibition finale instead, with Joshua Dobbs available to relieve him at some point. Rudolph has logged 15 appearances with the Steelers over the last two seasons.

Rudolph completed 13 of his 18 passes for 138 yards in Saturday's 26-20 preseason win over the Lions.

Rudolph drew starts in each of the Steelers' first two preseason matchups, but he worked behind Ben Roethlisberger on Saturday. The 2018 third-rounder still led the team's quarterbacks in playing time, as he was on the field for 50 percent of the snaps in the win. Rudolph led Pittsburgh in passing yards as a result and strengthened his case for the No. 2 job under center. Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs will have one more chance to compete in Friday's preseason finale against Carolina, but Rudolph appears to be the frontrunner to serve as the Steelers' primary backup at quarterback.

Rudolph completed eight of nine passes for 77 yards without a touchdown or turnover in Thursday's 24-16 preseason win over the Eagles.

Despite his accuracy, Rudolph failed to lead the Steelers to any points on the team's first three drives, even while working with the starting skill position players. Dwayne Haskins then led a trio of touchdown drives over the next two quarters, and he remains hot on Rudolph's heels for the backup job behind Ben Roethlisberger. Both Rudolph and Haskins should get plenty of reps in next week's preseason tilt against the Lions.

Rudolph will start Thursday's preseason game against the Eagles, Chris Adamski of TribLive.com reports.

Per the report, the plan is for Ben Roethlisberger to sit this one out, while Dwayne Haskins is slated to enter the contest late in the first half, with Joshua Dobbs in line to finish the game. In this past Thursday's Hall of Fame game, a 16-3 win over the Cowboys, Rudolph completed six of nine passes for 84 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Rudolph completed six of nine passes for 84 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed once for no gain during the Steelers' 16-3 preseason win over the Cowboys in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game. He also was charged with a lost fumble on a mishandled handoff in the first quarter.

The veteran backup acquitted himself well while getting a chance to play with first-team wideouts Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson. The most productive drive Rudolph was a part of was his final one, which began early in the second quarter and included a 45-yard completion to Claypool. However, it culminated in a Samuel Sloman missed field goal from 49 yards out. One-time Washington Football Team first-round pick Dwayne Haskins, battling Rudolph for the No. 2 job behind Ben Roethlisberger, also turned in a solid performance, so the competition between the two figures to extend through the balance of the team's remaining three preseason contests.

Rudolph will start Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game against the Cowboys, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Coach Mike Tomlin plans to rest Ben Roethlisberger on Thursday, so Rudolph will begin the preseason opener under center. The 26-year-old will be replaced by Dwayne Haskins to close out the first half before Joshua Dobbs enters the contest to finish the second half. Rudolph appeared in five games during the 2020 campaign and completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He's had more in-game experience than Dobbs across the last two seasons, but he'll face competition for the Steelers' No. 2 job at quarterback from Haskins during training camp and in the preseason. The Steelers will likely give Roethlisberger plenty of rest ahead of his age-39 season, so Rudolph should have plenty of opportunities to play during the team's four exhibition games.

Rudolph and the Steelers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The agreement, which Rudolph and the Steelers agreed upon on the eve of the 2021 NFL Draft, keeps the 2018 third-round pick under contract through 2022. Rudolph is currently slated to serve as the top backup to Ben Roethlisberger during the 2021 season, and he could be in the mix as the team considers its plans at quarterback long-term.

Rudolph is expected to serve as the Steelers' backup quarterback in 2021 following news that Ben Roethlisberger is expected to return, Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network reports.

Roethlisberger's 2020 season was underwhelming by most metrics, but the Steelers nevertheless want their franchise quarterback for another season. In turn, Rudolph will spend the final year of his rookie contract as the backup to Roethlisberger. The 2018 third-round pick started in Week 17 against the Browns and completed 56 percent of his passes for 315 yards (8.1 YPA), two touchdowns and an interception.

Rudolph completed 22 of 39 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while also rushing once for one yard in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Browns.

Rudolph received a spot start in Sunday's regular-season finale while Ben Roethlisberger rested ahead of the team's playoff run. He completed 56.4 percent of his passes against Cleveland, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt in the loss. He was replaced by Joshua Dobbs late in the game but still topped 300 yards for the first time in his career. Rudolph will revert to a backup role during the playoffs and should do the same in 2021 if Roethlisberger continues playing next season.

Rudolph will receive a spot start Sunday in Cleveland, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

Coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that Ben Roethlisberger and other veterans to be determined won't suit up in the regular-season finale to fit in some rest before the playoffs. Rudolph has only played 21 snaps on offense this year, but in 10 appearances in 2019 he completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,765 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Rudolph will receive the bulk of the reps at quarterback in practice this week with starter Ben Roethlisberger (knees) uncertain to be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to this weekend's game against the Bengals, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

Roethlisberger was one of four Steelers placed on the list Tuesday after those players were identified to have been high-risk close contacts of tight end Vance McDonald, who tested positive for COVID-19 following Sunday's 24-19 win over the Cowboys. Even though Roethlisberger has tested negative for the coronavirus, he'll still be forced to self-isolate for five days in accordance with NFL protocols, meaning he won't be able to practice Wednesday through Friday. Roethlisberger will continue to take part in virtual meetings with the Steelers and stay prepared to start Week 10 if he's activated from the list when eligible Saturday, but Rudolph waits in the wings in case the veteran can't go. Rudolph's last NFL start came against this same Bengals team back on Nov. 24, 2019, when he struggled through two quarters before being pulled in favor of Devlin Hodges.

Rudolph (shoulder) has resumed throwing footballs, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

The report adds that the 2018 third-rounder, who is bouncing back from off surgery to address a fractured AC joint, is expected to be full go for offseason work. In that context, Rudolph could be in line to significant QB reps out of the gate, with veteran starter Ben Roethlisberger on the mend from elbow surgery.

Rudolph (shoulder) had surgery last week to address a posterior sternoclavicular dislocation, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The injury is considered to be a medical emergency because the displaced clavicle can puncture the aorta or trachea, among other things. Fortunately, Rudolph avoided any of the scarier outcomes, staying in a trauma unit for three days after he had surgery. He anticipates a two-month recovery period, which could allow for participation at the beginning of Pittsburgh's offseason program. The 24-year-old quarterback likely will enter 2020 vying for a backup role behind Ben Roethlisberger, who had surgery on his right elbow Sept. 23. Coach Mike Tomlin suggested Rudolph will be ahead of Devlin Hodges when the team gets back to work in April, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Rudolph (shoulder) was placed on the injured reserve list Tuesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Rudolph sustained his season-ending injury after taking a snap under center, stumbling back and subsequently being tackled onto his left shoulder by multiple Jets defenders. Rudolph becomes the second Steelers' quarterback to be placed on injured reserve after Ben Roethlisberger (elbow) hit the list following Week 2. Devlin "Duck" Hodges and Paxton Lynch are now the only healthy quarterbacks on Pittsburgh's roster heading into final game of the regular season against the Ravens, with Hodges presumably set to draw the start. The Steelers can clinch a playoff birth with a win and a Titans loss.

Rudolph is slated to miss multiple weeks due to a left shoulder injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Not only will Rudolph miss the Steelers' regular-season finale at Baltimore, which Adam Schefter of ESPN reported earlier Monday, but the second-year signal-caller isn't expected to be available for wild-card weekend in the event the team achieves a playoff berth. With Rudolph out of commission, Pittsburgh will roll with undrafted rookie Devlin Hodges under center this Sunday while Paxton Lynch handles backup duty.

Rudolph left Sunday's game against the Jets with a shoulder injury, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

After taking over for Devlin Hodges in the second quarter of the contest, Rudolph completed 14-of-20 passes for 129 yards and a TD, but Hodges is back in the game now that Rudolph is banged up.

Rudolph will take over as the Steelers' starting quarterback with Ben Roethlisberger undergoing season-ending surgery on his right elbow, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

A 2018 third-round pick, Rudolph beat out Joshua Dobbs for the No. 2 job last month, completing 28 of 43 passes (65.1 percent) for 368 yards, four touchdowns and an interception during the preseason. Rudolph then replaced Roethlisberger for the second half of Sunday's 28-26 loss to Seattle, completing 12 of 19 attempts for 112 yards, two TDs and an INT, with the pick coming on a Donte Moncrief drop. Rudolph's tenure as the starting quarterback begins with a Week 3 trip to San Francisco, where the Steelers may or may not have James Conner (knee) available in their backfield. With Dobbs now in Jacksonville, it's not clear who the Steelers will turn to as Rudolph's backup.

Rudolph started the second half of Sunday's 28-26 loss to the Seahawks after Ben Roethlisberger exited with an elbow injury. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 112 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while adding a seven-yard rush.

Rudolph's second pass was intercepted after bouncing off the hands of receiver Donte Moncrief, but he bounced back nicely on the next possession, setting up a field goal with a 45-yard deep ball to JuJu Smith-Schuster via flea flicker. The 2018 third-rounder capped the next drive with an eight-yard touchdown to Vance McDonald to pull within two points, but his attempt at a game-tying two-point conversion was intercepted. He later added a three-yard touchdown to McDonald as Pittsburgh's comeback attempt came up just short. Rudolph showed he's capable of running the offense effectively should Roethlisberger need to miss further time, but we're still awaiting an update on Big Ben's non-contact injury.