Paxton Lynch prepared for promotion to role as No. 2 QB for Steelers finale

When Paxton Lynch was working out at Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wash., in July and August, who could have guessed by Christmas he would be a play away from having the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff hopes riding on his strong right arm?

With Mason Rudolph’s injured left shoulder expected to prevent him from playing in the Steelers’ regular-season finale Sunday at Baltimore, Lynch would go into the game as the No. 2 quarterback behind Devlin Hodges.

“That’s why they brought me in, to help this team win if called upon,” Lynch said Monday before heading to a meeting at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “So that’s what I’ll be ready for.”

Lynch was out of the NFL for the 2018 season after his release from the Denver Broncos in September of that year — less than 30 months after they made him the No. 26 overall pick in the draft as their successor to Peyton Manning.

But Lynch played just five games for the Broncos, and no team signed him in 2018. The Seahawks inked him to a futures deal in early 2019, and Lynch showed signs he could serve as Russell Wilson’s backup until suffering a concussion during a preseason game.

Tight end Nick Vannett was a teammate of Lynch’s during the preseason before Seattle traded Vannett to the Steelers in late September.

“I just remember (Lynch) taking it very seriously,” Vannett said. “I think that year off really taught him a lot, really to just go back to the basics and re-learn the game of football, build up his confidence again, and that’s something that he really displayed in Seattle during camp and OTAs, preseason, learning how to take ownership of the huddle and ownership of the offense while he’s on the field.

“He made some great plays. … He definitely has proven he can do it. He’s just got to put it all together.”

Paxton Lynch was happy to get a call from the #Steelers earlier this week and is embracing his role at the bottom of their quarterbacks depth chart after spending most of the past year without an #NFL gig of any sort.https://t.co/3sO79xsteq

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 19, 2019

The Steelers signed Lynch to their practice squad Sept. 17 after the season-ending injury suffered by Ben Roethlisberger. He was added to the 53-man roster three weeks later after Rudolph suffered a concussion and was not cleared to play in a game at the Los Angeles Chargers.

That was the only game Lynch would be in uniform for the Steelers — so far — but the team has kept him on its 53-man roster ever since.

“As time goes on and with getting more reps and working on your craft, I think anybody would feel more confident in themselves and their abilities,” Lynch said.

“I don’t know if I necessarily needed a boost in my confidence. I just kind of wanted the opportunity. I have been here, and I’ve had the opportunity to work and that’s all I ask for. So that’s what I’m going to continue to keep doing.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.