Devlin Hodges ‘still confident,’ but Mike Tomlin won’t commit he’ll remain Steelers starter

For the first time in his young career, Duck didn’t fly high.

But Devlin Hodges insists a four-interception performance hasn’t shaken his confidence he can play in the NFL.

“You hate to lose,” Hodges said after a 17-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills, “but I think after the first loss, how you respond is going to define who I am. I mean, yeah, I’m disappointed right now, but in a couple days I’m still going to be who I am. I’m still going to be confident, still going to know that I can get the job done.”

Hodges lost for the first time in four NFL starts, and the undrafted rookie also had a comeback win in relief to his credit. But for as adept he’d been up until Monday at “not killing” the Steelers – to borrow Mike Tomlin’s backhanded-yet-loving praise for him – Hodges was not that at all against the Bills.

He had four interceptions and also fumbled once (albeit, the Steelers recovered it) while completing 23 of his 38 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown.

Picked off in the end zone!

Jordan Poyer comes up with the huge takeaway. #GoBills @J_Poyer21

?: #BUFvsPIT on NBC
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“Sometimes you make plays,” Hodges said. “Sometimes you don’t.”

Hodges did make some plays in the passing game – three plays of at least 30 yards, all on balls caught at least 20 yards downfield. But he could not make a play for a tying score during two trips inside the Bills 30 over the game’s final 4 minutes.

Twice, Hodges was intercepted in the end zone on passes intended for Deon Cain and James Washington.

The @BuffaloBills defense seals the win! #BUFvsPIT #GoBills pic.twitter.com/hptprq1tgy

— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2019

“For us, when Duck throws it up and gives us a chance,” Washington said, “we have to come down and make those plays for him.”

Four interceptions is enough that it compelled media to ask Tomlin if he was considering a change at quarterback, just three weeks after he’d put Hodges in in place of Mason Rudolph.

Tomlin wanted none of it.

“I am not getting into that, guys,” Tomlin said. “We just lost a football game. I’m not going to make an announcement every week or every time I stand in front of you guys in terms of who is playing quarterback or any other position for that matter.”

Hodges said he didn’t know if he would be the starter when the Steelers play at the New York Jets.

“I hope I’m the guy,” he said, “but whatever happens, happens. I’m going to be supportive. This is about the team, not me.”

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