Mason Rudolph Weathers Rough Start, Puts Up Career High in Win over Dolphins

It had been 22 days since Mason Rudolph took the scary helmet-to-helmet hit that would send him into concussion protocol. That time off apparently caused a build up of rust for the young QB, who made his fourth career NFL start on Monday night.

Rudolph’s first pass in over three weeks was picked off and he would have had two INTs in four attempts if a review hadn’t reversed the call on one play. Miami DB Ryan Lewis couldn’t get his second foot down in-bounds. That drive would end with a turnover on downs.

A closer look shows that his former college teammate didn’t do Rudolph any favors on that play.

Through two drives, Rudolph was 1-for-5 for 14 yards and a pick, and the Steelers quickly found themselves down 14-zip to the visiting 0-6 Dolphins. Then Rudolph knocked off the rust and the Steelers offense picked up steam.

At one point Rudolph completed seven-straight passes. He ended the night 20-of-36 for a career-high 251 yards, two TDs and an INT.

There was this slant route on third-and-20 to rookie receiver Diontae Johnson that went for 45 yards and 6. (Take a look at that block by James Washington.)

And then this well-placed dime to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 26 yards and a score.

James Washington caught just one of his six targets for 21 yards.

The Steelers followed up a 14-0 deficit by scoring 27 unanswered on the way to a 27-14 win. Rudolph is now 2-2 in his four career starts. The Steelers, now 3-4, host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 3 at noon central time.