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Well the story that never ends might have actually come to its conclusion on Wednesday evening. The rumor mill swirling around Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph being in, or out, of the NFL’s concussion protocol has been arduous. After rumors of Rudolph being released by an independent neurologist before the Chargers game, the team stating he was still in the protocol, and the same day Mike Tomlin referred to the label as “semantics” — Mason Rudolph is free.
Free from the NFL’s concussion protocol.
This per the Steelers Director of Public Relations, Burt Lauten:
This afternoon #Steelers QB Mason Rudolph was cleared by an independent neurological consultant to fully return to action following the team’s bye weekend. Rudolph is no longer in the concussion protocol.
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) October 16, 2019
Rudolph is now able to practice fully, and prepare for the team’s next game. What is great news is how the Steelers are entering their Week 7 bye week before playing the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football at Heinz Field in Week 8.
Earlier Wednesday Mike Tomlin said when healthy Rudolph would be the starting quarterback for the team moving forward, and it looks as if that time is now. From here the team will go into games with Rudolph as the QB1, Devlin Hodges as QB2 and it is possible the team keeps Paxton Lynch as the QB3 and a game day inactive for the remainder of the season.
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they head into the bye week, and let’s hope this Rudolph concussion story has finally come to its conclusion.