Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announces Mason Rudolph as starting QB against Browns
Mason Rudolph will be the starting quarterback Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers return to Cleveland for the first time since the helmet-swinging fiasco marred the end of their game at FirstEnergy Stadium in November 2019.
Rudolph will replace starter Ben Roethlisberger, who is being rested until the start of the NFL playoffs, coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday at his weekly press conference.
Tomlin said other veteran players likely will sit out the regular-season finale for the 12-3 Steelers, who will be either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed when the playoffs open. Roethlisberger, though, was the only one whose absence Tomlin confirmed Tuesday. The rest will be determined by health and position availability.
The game marks the Steelers’ first trip to Cleveland since defensive end Myles Garrett ripped the helmet from Rudolph’s head late in the Browns’ 21-7 victory and swung it at the quarterback, hitting him on his unprotected head. Garrett was suspended indefinitely and missed the remainder of the regular season.
Tomlin said he has not talked to Rudolph about his decision to start him Sunday but expects the third-year backup to be “excited” about the opportunity.
The Browns enter the game Sunday with a 10-5 record and can seal the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2002 with a victory against the Steelers. Baltimore (10-5), Indianapolis (10-5), Tennessee (10-5) and Miami (10-5) also remain alive for the four remaining playoff berths in the AFC. Kansas City (14-1), Buffalo and the Steelers have clinched as division champions.
Even if the Steelers rest starters against the Browns, Tomlin said it should not be taken as a sign that his team isn’t trying to win the game.
“Make no mistake,” Tomlin said, “this does not change our intentions going to Cleveland this weekend.”
The Steelers already have locked up a home playoff game in the wild-card round Jan. 9-10. They need to defeat the Browns and have the Bills (12-3) lose to the Dolphins (10-5) on Sunday to secure the No. 2 seed and home-field advantage in the divisional round. If they finish with identical records, the Bills hold a tiebreaker advantage via a head-to-head victory over the Steelers.
Inside linebacker Robert Spillane, who is on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, is eligible to return Sunday. Tomlin said it’s too soon to determine whether Spillane will be activated. He is hopeful that kicker Chris Boswell will be back for the finale. Boswell has missed two of the past four games, including the 28-24 victory against the Indianapolis Colts, because of injuries.
Here is some of what Tomlin had to say during his press conference:
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Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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