Mason Rudolph Excited for First NFL Start After Big Ben Injury

This time last season, Mason Rudolph was the third quarterback on the Steelers’ roster, but now he has at least the next 14 games at the top of the depth chart.

Pittsburgh’s franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will have season-ending surgery on his throwing elbow, handing the keys Rudolph, a second-year QB out of Oklahoma State.

“I’m excited,” Rudolph said Monday. “It’s kind of a sucky circumstance with our leader and a good friend going down, but he would want me to step up and lead to the best of my ability. That’s what I’ve always believed in. That’s what I’m going to do. Just excited to get some more practice reps, right? That’ll be fun to kind of go into a game and feel more rehearsed and prepared.”

Rudolph looked good in his half of pro football when he spelled the injured Roethlisberger. Rudolph completed 63 percent of his 19 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

On Monday, Rudolph said the offense won’t change much because of the quarterback switch with him and Roethlisberger both being prototypical pro-style passers. Rudolph said he intends on picking Roethlisberger’s brain as much as possible, something that should be easier with Big Ben not having to teach and gameplan.

“When you’re the backup, you don’t want to overburden the starter with questions, but he’s been great with answering them,” Rudolph said. “Our relationship definitely seems to have grown this year. Just like with anything, when I was a starter at Oklahoma State, you’re not gonna be best buddies with the new freshman. You’re just not. He’s younger. But he’s done a great job of opening up to myself and the rest of the guys in the room.”

There were five quarterbacks taken before Rudolph was in the 2018 draft. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson were all first-round picks and all started games in their rookie seasons. Rudolph was a third-rounder and didn’t throw a pass last season.

“There have been plenty of quarterbacks who haven’t played immediately,” Rudolph said. “I was encouraged by that, and you kind of had people coming to the side and telling you that stuff. That’s all fine and dandy. In the moment, you’re still, you know, you want to play, you’re pissed.

“It’s all short term. I tried to have a long-term mentality and understand that hopefully I’ll be playing this game a long time, and as long as I’m ready for my opportunity, that’s all that matters.”