Steelers’ Devlin Hodges retains his confidence despite 4-interception game

In explaining his decision on Tuesday to leave Devlin Hodges in the role of starting quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin alluded in part to an analogy about his players playing basketball.

“They are the guy that when they were on their high school basketball teams had the ball in the waning moments of the game, etc.,” Tomlin said. “I am just calling on that.”

So it must have been awkward for Hodges when he sheepishly admitted to the media Wednesday that he did not play high school basketball.

“Basketball is the one sport I gave up just so I could go hunting more,” Hodges said, smiling.

With the Steelers hunting desperately for a win in order to inch closer to locking up a playoff spot, the confidence in him that Tomlin showed when he stuck with “Duck” was not lost on the undrafted rookie.

“We watched the tape (and) I’ve got some things I can get better and I can learn from,” Hodges said. “I’ve got to let that one go and move on and get ready for this week.”

The Steelers (8-6) play at the Jets (5-9) in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday a week after Hodges threw four interceptions in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. And Hodges enters the game knowing the most recent time a Steelers quarterback started the week following a four-interception performance, he was benched just after halftime: Tomlin replaced Mason Rudolph with Hodges on Nov. 24 at Cincinnati.

Mike Tomiln wouldn't address the #Steelers' QB situation in the immediate aftermath of the loss Sunday night https://t.co/fklwtK7SlV

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) December 16, 2019

Does Hodges think he’s on a short leash against the Jets?

“I don’t,” he said. “I don’t think any of the coaches are thinking about that because I don’t think any of the coaches are expecting me to have a bad game. They are expecting me to learn, play better and do well.”

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