Steelers News: Devlin Hodges has one last chance to prove himself. Will he get the job done?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 17 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Baltimore Ravens we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how Devlin Hodges, by default, has one more chance to prove himself. Will he respond?

Let’s get to the news:

• Duck Hodges hasn’t been good the past two games for the Steelers. No way around that fact, but will he take advantage of this final shot to prove himself?

With Mason Rudolph unavailable, Steelers have no choice but to turn back to Devlin Hodges

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

It might have been the only time Mike Tomlin laughed on Christmas Eve.

As the old saying goes, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry — and the latter might have been in play for Tomlin on a day in which he had no choice but to turn to Devlin Hodges to start a regular-season finale in which the Pittsburgh Steelers could use a victory to grab a playoff spot.

So when he was asked during his weekly news conference whether Hodges’ recent propensity for interceptions was attributable to poor decisions or bad throws, Tomlin grinned.

“Does it matter?” Tomlin said before laughing.

On Sunday at the Baltimore Ravens, Hodges will make his fifth consecutive start at quarterback for the Steelers — but this time, it won’t be on merit. He’s starting because a shoulder injury suffered by Mason Rudolph during this past Sunday’s game landed Rudolph on the season-ending injured reserve list Tuesday.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• With the Ravens resting most of their starters, the Steelers are preparing to see some familiar faces on Sunday.

Mike Tomlin, Steelers expect to see former Penn State QB Trace McSorley with Ravens

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

After a three-year starting career at Penn State in which he won 31 games, Trace McSorley figures to get the first regular-season action of his NFL career against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With the Baltimore Ravens having already locked up the AFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs, coach John Harbaugh said they will rest several starters – including MVP candidate quarterback Lamar Jackson. And while veteran Robert Griffin III will start for the Ravens on Sunday against the Steelers, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he expects to also see McSorley.

“Although he hasn’t played in any regular season action, this is a guy we are familiar with because he went to Penn State,” Tomlin said. “We are familiar with the things he is capable of doing with legs to extend plays and by designed runs. They are fully capable of getting a look at him in the same ways that they utilize Lamar Jackson.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Don’t let John Harbaugh’s decision to rest starters fool you, they want to beat the Steelers in a bad way.

John Harbaugh: Despite resting stars, Ravens ‘want to win this game’ vs. Steelers

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Unlike the high stakes for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens have nothing to play for Sunday in regards to playoff positioning. Some of their best players will be shielded from playing.

But Ravens coach John Harbaugh said none of that means his team won’t be ready to play in the regular-season finale.

“With all of those guys who will be playing (for Baltimore), they’re all on our 53-man roster,” Harbaugh told reporters in Baltimore on Monday. “They’ll be excited to play, and we’ll be excited to play. It’s a rivalry game. It’s the Steelers. They have everything to play for, and we recognize that and we’ll be looking to put our absolute best foot forward, play our best football game with the guys that we’ll be playing with, which will be, for the most part, most of our football team, with a few exceptions.”

Those exceptions, Harbaugh announced, are quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Mark Ingram, guard Marshal Yanda, safety Earl Thomas and defensive lineman Brandon Williams won’t play Sunday.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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