Mason Rudolph playing waiting game to see whether he will start for Steelers vs. Chargers

Like Steelers Nation, Mason Rudolph is curious to know whether he will make a second consecutive start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

That decision will be dictated by science. And like the team’s rabid fan base, Rudolph has no inside information regarding the health of starter Ben Roethlisberger.

“I get updates,” Rudolph said Thursday. “I mean, I really haven’t had updates — anything that you guys don’t have.”

Roethlisberger must pass two negative covid tests — and be symptom-free for 48 hours — before he can be cleared to start against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.

Until those results are known — and it might not be known until Saturday, perhaps even after the Steelers depart for California — Rudolph is proceeding as though he will be under center when the offense first takes the field.

“I’m moving along with the pace you guys are,” Rudolph said after rain forced the Steelers to practice indoors at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “We’ll see what happens. I only worry about the meeting times, preparation and practice.”

Rudolph finds himself in a similar situation as Week 10 in 2020. He took the first-team reps for an entire week of practice after Roethlisberger was determined to be in close contact with tight end Vance McDonald, who had tested positive.

Roethlisberger was cleared to play less than 24 hours before the Steelers faced the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. He threw four touchdown passes in a 36-10 victory. Rudolph’s only playing time came on the final four offensive snaps with the outcome long decided.

Would it be gut-wrenching if the scenario repeated itself for Rudolph this weekend?

“That’s the battle between self and team,” he said. “We’re all going to feel that way inside, but at the end of the freaking day what matters is the team and going out and winning the game. Regardless of who is playing the quarterback position for the Steelers, we want to win.”

Rudolph has learned to be prepared for any scenario, such as the one that arose last Saturday night when Roethlisberger tested positive after experiencing covid symptoms. Rudolph met with offensive coordinator Matt Canada and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan at the team hotel to tweak the gameplan to his liking.

“That’s the nature of being a backup quarterback now,” Rudolph said. “There is an ebb and flow. Coach Sully calls it midstream adjust. You have to adjust and always be ready. I think having those experiences with Cincy last year and over my career has helped me to be ready to flip on a dime.”

Rudolph completed 30 of 50 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the Steelers’ 16-16 tie with Detroit. He had two chances to lead the Steelers to victory in overtime before lost fumbles after the catch ended drives in Lions’ territory.

“I think Mason did a nice job continuing to keep fighting and going in the game and leading on the sideline,” Canada said. “We didn’t get the result we wanted, and we’re all disappointed about that, but I think Mason continues to grow and work at his game, at his craft.”

While reviewing tape Wednesday night, Rudolph saw some plays that could help the Steelers against the Chargers, and he texted his thoughts to Canada.

“It’s always good to know as a young quarterback that your opinion is being taken into consideration,” Rudolph said.

If Rudolph starts against the Chargers, it will be his 11th in four seasons with the Steelers. The last time he started consecutive games was in November 2019 when he faced Cincinnati in Week 11 after being infamously conked on the head with his helmet by Myles Garrett 10 days earlier. Rudolph was yanked from the Bengals game at halftime and replaced with Devlin Hodges.

“I feel like he’s a little more poised now, a little more calm in there,” said wide receiver James Washington, a former college teammate at Oklahoma State who connected with Rudolph on a 9-yard touchdown catch against Detroit. “He’s a familiar face to a lot of guys, so I think we all kind of just look at him as a leader now. … I think we’ll be just fine.”

That, of course, depends on whether Rudolph actually gets the chance to start against the Chargers. Science will be the determining factor.

“I’ll be happy to have an opportunity to play and get out there and to make mistakes and improve and do some good things as well,” he said. “That’s all I can do is try to prove myself again this week. I hope I get the opportunity. If not, I’ll support the crap out of Ben and our team.”