Backup QBs lead Steelers to 4 TDs in preseason victory at Jacksonville

It remains to be seen how well Aaron Rodgers executes Arthur Smith’s offense — or if even he gets a chance — before the regular season opens Sept. 7 for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Coach Mike Tomlin told the team website Saturday that he may withhold Rodgers’ debut with the Steelers until the results count in the standings.

Standing on the sidelines at EverBank Stadium, Rodgers got a glimpse of how the backups fared in his absence. It was an efficient performance as Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson led the Steelers to a 31-25 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rudolph led a touchdown drive on his first series, and Thompson took the Steelers into the end zone three times in the preseason opener.

“A productive night on a lot of fronts,” Tomlin said.

If Rodgers doesn’t play the rest of the preseason and while rookie Will Howard’s broken finger heals, Rudolph and Thompson figure to get extended playing time. Rudolph played two series, and Thompson handled the quarterback duties deep into the fourth quarter.

Rodgers was among 23 players who did not dress for the game. Fifteen veterans were healthy scratches, and eight didn’t suit up because of injuries.

Rudolph completed 9 of 10 passes for 84 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown to tight end Darnell Washington. The lone incompletion for Rudolph was a drop by rookie running back Kaleb Johnson on the second possession.

“Arthur did a great job of calling some aggressive shots over the middle,” Rudolph said.

Thompson threw three touchdown passes: a 3-yard touchdown pass to Max Hurleman late in the first half, an 11-yarder to Trey Sermon on a screen in the third quarter and a 26-yard rope to Ke’Shawn Williams for a TD in the fourth.

The Steelers got a fourth score while Thompson was in the game, with rookie kicker Ben Sauls of Pitt connecting on a 36-yard field goal. Logan Woodside, signed Thursday as the fifth quarterback on the roster, replaced Thompson with 2 minutes, 34 seconds to play.

Thompson finished 20 of 28 for 233 yards and no interceptions and a 132.0 passer rating.

“I was super excited to get out and compete today,” said Thompson, who spent his first three seasons with Miami. “Coming to a new organization and team, it was a little bit of a fresh start for me. I was excited to play some football and have fun with my teammates.”

Starting in place of a resting Jaylen Warren, Johnson played into the second half. His Steelers debut was inauspicious: 20 yards rushing on eight carries, one catch for 6 yards. In addition to his drop, he was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 run.

Playing its starters, Jacksonville converted a fourth down on the opening possession and controlled the clock for 7:19 before Cam Little converted a 41-yard field goal.

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who is expected to play on both sides of the ball, had two catches for 9 yards on the drive. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence took a seat after that drive having completed 6 of 7 attempts against the makeshift Steelers starting defense.

Rudolph came out throwing on the Steelers’ first drive, attempting seven passes on a nine-play, 65-yard march to the end zone. He capped the possession by hitting Washington over the middle for a 19-yard score with 2:56 left in the opening quarter for a 7-3 lead. Rudolph completed all seven passes for 70 yards. Roman Wilson, playing in his first preseason game after missing nearly his entire rookie season, had two catches for 24 yards on the drive.

When Rudolph left, so did the first-team offensive line. With backup center Ryan McCollum nursing an injury, Max Scharping handled the pivot duties. Dylan Cook, trying to earn a roster spot as the swing tackle, replaced Broderick Jones at left tackle.

All the work the Steelers do with their 2-minute offense in training camp paid off when Thompson led the Steelers to a touchdown with 24 seconds left in the half for a 14-6 lead. The Steelers had the ball at their 26 when the two-minute warning hit. After the break, Thompson hit Scotty Miller with a 22-yard completion, and he threaded the needle with a 26-yard pass to Hurleman that put the ball on the 3. On the next snap, Thompson found Hurleman on the right side of the end zone for the touchdown.

“We were able to get in a rhythm,” Thompson said. “It started with Arthur putting in some good play calls. We got good rhythm, and everyone was in sync.”

Little boomed a 70-yard field goal on the final play of the half to cut the Steelers’ lead to 14-9. Little’s kick would have broken the NFL record by 4 yards had it been done in the regular season. He added a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers’ first possession of the second half ended when Johnson was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 run off the right side. An interception by Cameron McCutcheon was negated when Isaiahh Loudermilk was called for roughing the passer.

Nick Mullens benefited from that call and capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Trenton Irwin that gave Jacksonville a 15-14 lead. Mullens’ 2-point conversion pass was incomplete.

Thompson responded by leading the Steelers on a 69-yard touchdown drive that gave them a 21-15 advantage. Sermon took a screen and went 11 yards untouched for the go-ahead score.