With Mason Rudolph ailing, Devlin Hodges to start for Steelers in season finale

Down to their only healthy option at quarterback with experience running their offense in a game this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will turn to Devlin Hodges as their starter for Week 17 at Baltimore.

Mason Rudolph, who replaced Hodges in the second quarter Sunday and led the Steelers to their only points in a 16-10 loss to the New York Jets, injured his left shoulder late in the third quarter and did not return to the game.

ESPN reported Monday afternoon that Rudolph won’t be healthy enough to play, and Steelers players said they were told Hodges would take the snaps against the Ravens.

Paxton Lynch, a former first-round draft pick who has been active for one game this season and hasn’t taken a NFL regular-season snap since 2017, will back up Hodges.

“Yeah, it’s tough, but they brought me in here for if they needed me,” Lynch said, “and if they need me this week, I’m going to do everything I can be to prepared to play.”

Between his two stints against the Jets on Sunday, Hodges completed 11 of 17 passes for 84 yards and two interceptions. He has thrown six picks over his past two games, with four coming in a span of five possessions.

Hodges was 3-0 as an NFL starter, becoming the first undrafted free agent in a non-strike season to accomplish that feat in the Super Bowl era. However, he has lost his past two starts, and his next one will come with the Steelers’ playoff hopes on the line.

“He’s shown that he could (get it done) early on,” tight end Nick Vannett said. “Unfortunately, he didn’t have his best game. He’s young, and he’s still learning things and he’ll continue to learn things. I would bet he’s learning the most from these experiences where he’s feeling at his low (point) right now.

“He’ll bounce back more than ever. It will make his preparation even harder, and it will be motivating to him.”

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