It’s now official, per an announcement from head coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers will start quarterback Devlin Hodges this week against the Browns, sending Mason Rudolph to the bench. 
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Rudolph completed just 8 of 16 passes for 65 yards and a red zone interception before being yanked against the Bengals. After Hodges entered in the third quarter, he finished out 5-of-11 for 118 yards and a touchdown in a comeback win.
Tomlin was non-committal when asked about a potential shakeup after Sunday’s game, but this was the expected move. Hodges is not a world-beater, nor does he profile as the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger, but he might be the team’s better option as they push for the playoffs.
At 6-5, the Steelers have a 27% chance of making the playoffs, according to FiveThirtyEight. In the next three weeks, they’ll see the Browns, Cardinals, and Bills.
Is it possible they just didn’t want Rudolph to face the Browns again?
Yes that is possible.
Rudolph knew he was about to get his nuts twisted off under the pile this week. He opted out.
Yeah wouldn’t expect anything less from a classy Cleveland fan
Go Bubby Brister 2.0!!!
What a baby
This decision has nothing to do with facing the Browns this week. It has everything to do with him being a terrible QB the last few weeks. The Steelers are winning games despite his play rather than him winning anything for the team.
These are the facts. I made a joke last week that the league punished the Steelers by not suspending Rudolph for a game. I thought he had potential coming out of college, but he has played very poorly.
Made the same joke! And I liked the pick when he came out of college. Now I fear he is less talented than Landry Jones!
Too be quite honest, his and Jones college and professional careers are very similar. Both put up numbers in college, due to poor defenses, and flopped in the NFL. Goes to show that they will not be able to develop an heir to Ben and will have to go through a rebuild like everyone else.
There are plenty of QBs in the draft this year. Too many maybe. The Steelers could pick one this year and they’d still be ready to go for Ben’s retirement party.
Actually, Landry played very little in the regular season. 5 games started and 2 of those were last games of the regular season that meant nothing so no pressure in them. No idea how good or bad Landry was.
I’m sorry not a Steers fan but if Rudolph was to replace Ben, why they chose Rudolph to do it in the first place? Lack of options? Ben will always be Ben but c’mon…
Rudolph was a big time college QB..unfortunately it hasn’t worked out well for him so far.
He has been awful since the concussion. Duck will do his best Bubby impersonation and maybe that and the defense will be enough.
They’ll finish probably right around 8-8, miss the playoffs and be right in the ugly zone re: the draft.
Good. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving team. Except maybe the Cowboys… or the Eagles… or the Packers… ooooh, how about a nice 8-8 season for the Patriots?!?!?!
They do not have a 1st rd pick anyway. Pittsburgh traded it to Miami for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Boom, roasted!
I remember when teams used to have patience to develop a young QB. Now they go from star to scrub in 6 games.
Giants fans remember Joe Pisarcik going from star to scrub in about 6 seconds on November 19 1978.
I’m sure they never intended to start him this year and wanted to develop him a few years…..
Hey, nobody thought Tommy Maddox was any good, but when I saw him at Giant Eagle and asked him to slice me a pound of chipped ham, I could tell that he still has potential
That was his lookalike. Tommy is a well heeled businessman these days.
Which QB was tried out, failed, and then succeeded once fully groomed?
The Steelers drafted Johnny Unitas in 1955 but cut him during training camp. I hear he did ok after that.
Sounds like not only a performance decision but, a Public Relations move.
I am glad Mason Rudolph was killed with a helmet. If he was, I am sure Garrett would have still had same story and appealed.
Is it me or has professional sports on and off the field has gotten to point we just accept and forgive bad behavior.
I think the decision to bench Mason Rudolph is performance and Public Relations based.
I wonder if Garrett had actually killed Mason Rudolph if there would still have been an appeal for Lessing the suspension.
Is it me or has Professional Sports behavior both On and Off the field has gotten progressively worse?
My guess is the acceptance of this type of ongoing behavior is a combination of the chase of the dollar, winning at all cost and a deteriation of society.