Steelers switch back to Mason Rudolph after Devlin Hodges throws 2 more INTs

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Three days before Christmas, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned to Rudolph in hopes of saving the day.

Mason Rudolph took over at quarterback early in the second quarter of Sunday’s game at the New York Jets after Devlin Hodges threw two interceptions and the Jets holding a 10-0 lead.

Picked off in the end zone! The @nyjets defense's second INT of the first half. #TakeFlight

?: #PITvsNYJ on CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/csMF3GLW6Z pic.twitter.com/bOqiHiI9e2

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2019

It was Rudolph’s first action since the Nov. 23 game at the Cincinnati Bengals, in which he was pulled by coach Mike Tomlin because of ineffectiveness.

Hodges led a comeback win that day and started each of the four ensuing games. He won the first two to become the first undrafted rookie quarterback since the merger to start his career 3-0 in a nonstrike season.

Including the Bengals game, Rudolph is 5-3 as a starter. Rudolph was on a short leash in the Cincinnati game after he had thrown four interceptions the week prior in a loss at the Cleveland Browns.

Steelers drive chart the past 2 games, in inverse chronological order:
INT
Punt
INT
INT
INT
Punt
Punt
INT
Punt
TD
Fumble
Punt
FG
Punt
INT

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) December 22, 2019

Hodges threw four interceptions last week in defeat to the Buffalo Bills. When he was pulled, he’d thrown interceptions on four of the final five drives he had guided.

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