Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2019 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 14 and July 26.
WR ELI ROGERS
Experience: 30 regular-season games over three seasons with Steelers
Contract status: $1.5 million cap hit in 2019, signed through ’20
2019 outlook: Rogers has had a unique NFL career. Undrafted in 2015, he signed with the Steelers and spent his rookie season on injured reserve. When an undrafted injured player is kept on IR, that usually means the team is impressed. The Steelers were, and for good reason. Rogers had 48 catches for 594 yards as the slot receiver in 2016. He regressed statistically in 2017, when the Steelers had more skill options on offense, then tore an ACL in their playoff loss. That put his Steelers future in jeopardy, but the team brought him back in hopes he could return by the end of the season. Rogers did, in December, and had 12 catches in three games. It earned him a two-year extension this spring. But can Rogers and Ryan Switzer both make the roster, especially in a crowded receivers’ room? Probably, but it’s no guarantee.
Eli Rogers discusses his new two-year contract in Pittsburgh, what it means to him to remain in Black & Gold and looks forward to an exciting 2019 season. pic.twitter.com/YSwmpDcE7H
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 14, 2019
QB MASON RUDOLPH
Experience: 2nd season
Contract status: $891,333 cap hit in 2019, the second season of four-year rookie deal
2019 outlook: The Steelers took who they saw as their backup quarterback of the future (and potential future starter) the year before in Josh Dobbs, but Rudolph was too good for them to pass up in the third round of the 2018 draft. Although Dobbs beat Rudolph to be the top backup last season, he had the advantage of a year in the offense. This season will serve as a more accurate and fair test. It’s not fair to say it will be a disappointing reflection of Rudolph if he doesn’t win the top backup job (after all, Dobbs’ play is part of the equation), but few would have believed as recently as 15 months ago that then-potential first-round pick Rudolph would be no better than third-string in his second season. The Dobbs/Rudolph competition is one of the more compelling storylines of training camp.
For even better context, @THEChrisMack, here's Steelers QB Mason Rudolph answering a @JColony13 question and talking about his approach to backing up "Mr. Roethlisberger." pic.twitter.com/BYiqmdyvBk
— Kevin Gorman (@KGorman_Trib) May 29, 2019
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
