NEW DELHI: With the Pittsburgh Steelers gearing up for the wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Mason Rudolph will continue as the starting quarterback. Despite being without star pass rusher T.J. Watt due to a knee injury, the Steelers remain confident in Rudolph’s performance.
Tomlin emphasized the decision to stick with Rudolph is about maintaining continuity and recognizing the quarterback’s ability to deliver under challenging circumstances.
Since taking over for backup Mitchell Trubisky, Rudolph has thrown three touchdowns with no interceptions.
“He’s making good decisions. There’s a cumulative body of work. Mason’s been here a long time,” Tomlin stated regarding his confidence in Rudolph.
In terms of defensive reinforcements, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is set to return after missing the last three games with a knee injury. Despite starting the week as limited in practice, Tomlin clarified that this was a precautionary measure, and Fitzpatrick is expected to be back in action. He will be joined by strong safety Damontae Kazee, who returns from a three-game suspension for borderline illegal hits.
However, the Steelers will face a significant setback with the absence of T.J. Watt, who has been ruled out for the wild-card game. Watt, a standout with 19.0 sacks, played a crucial role in the Steelers’ three-game winning streak that secured their playoff spot.
Tomlin acknowledged the challenge of playing without Watt, emphasizing that it won’t be a one-person task to replace him. Despite Watt’s absence, Tomlin expressed confidence in the team’s depth and the potential for other players to step up.
“We’ve got depth at that position. I’m comfortable with the quality of depth,” Tomlin asserted. “We have guys that are capable.”
(With AP inputs)
