Months earlier than the Pittsburgh Steelers confirmed this previous Thursday that they deliberate to signal free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a one-year contract, the membership introduced longtime backup Mason Rudolph again to the group through a two-year deal he inked in March.
Over the weekend, Rudolph addressed dropping down the Steelers’ depth chart as a result of Rodgers becoming a member of the staff’s quarterback room.
“I had a sense they had been going to deliver any individual in,” Rudolph acknowledged in regards to the Steelers’ offseason plans, per Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Assessment. “Clearly, Aaron was on the forefront of the dialog for a very long time. It received’t change my strategy. We’ve obtained another week of apply developing, our obligatory minicamp. Will probably be good to get everyone within the constructing. I’ll preserve doing what I’ve carried out my entire profession. I’ve had loads of adversity and located a method to battle by means of it. I stayed able to play properly when known as upon.”
Pittsburgh’s obligatory minicamp is scheduled to run from Tuesday by means of Thursday.
Rudolph had plenty of support amongst Steelers teammates and coaches as Rodgers remained unsigned by means of Pittsburgh’s voluntary springtime exercises. Through the 2023 season, the Steelers had been 7-7 when Rudolph guided the club to a few straight wins and a playoff berth. Pittsburgh later let him attain free company, and he went 1-4 throughout 5 begins with the Tennessee Titans final season.
In the meantime, it’s clear that Rodgers had been in contact with Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith after the 41-year-old visited with the Steelers in March. Rudolph will now be tasked with serving as Rodgers’ main backup and as a mentor for 2025 sixth-round draft selection Will Howard.
“It gives readability,” Rudolph added in regards to the Steelers signing Rodgers. “I’m excited to see a number of the faces which might be coming again, clearly, Aaron. I’m simply going to maintain doing my job — that’s all I can do — and attempt to assist my staff win video games.”
Howard is probably going a challenge for the long run who will solely play as a rookie if catastrophe strikes the Steelers. That stated, Rodgers dealt with a number of bodily setbacks as a 2024 New York Jets member. As a lot as Rudolph could also be bummed about getting into coaching camp as Pittsburgh’s QB2, he may very well be one play away from seeing the sphere as quickly as in the course of the Steelers’ regular-season opener on the Jets on Sept. 7.
