Steelers News: The situation might not be ideal, but Mason Rudolph gets to lead the Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 3 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the San Francisco 49ers, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the season starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how Mason Rudolph would have liked to claim the Steelers starting job in a different way, but he has an tremendous opportunity ahead of him nonetheless.

Let’s get to the news:

• Mason Rudolph has the opportunity of a lifetime, getting 14 games to show what you have for the team that drafted you. If only it didn’t take Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow going out to get this opportunity.

Mason Rudolph gets opportunity to lead Steelers offense

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“It’s a crazy turn of events with an injury, but I’m excited to step up,” Rudolph said. “That’s what backups do. That’s what I’ve done my entire career, whether it be high school, college or now. Nothing different for me. I’m going to be the same person I am and continue to prepare like I’m the starter when I’m not, and I’m going to continue to do that: do my weekly routine and put a good gameplan together with the staff and go execute.”

Rudolph was lumped into what some were calling a historically deep and quality quarterbacks class in 2018 alongside Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson.

But when the dust cleared on that draft, those five went in the first round (all but Jackson being taken in the top 10) – and Rudolph waited until the middle of the third round to be picked up by the Steelers.

That the Steelers had a first-round grade on Rudolph — and they traded up three spots to grab him — was of little consolation to him, mostly because of the circumstance. With Roethlisberger, the Steelers had a franchise quarterback in place.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• The loss of Ben Roethlisberger starts a shift for the Steelers, whether you like it or not...

Kevin Gorman: Losing Ben Roethlisberger for the season is seismic shift for Steelers

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Before Ben Roethlisberger clutched his right elbow Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers were aware their franchise quarterback was experiencing pain in his passing arm.

But they trusted in his threshold.

“I don’t think anyone was too worried about it,” right guard David DeCastro said. “You know Ben. Ben’s going to come out and play.”

When Roethlisberger didn’t come out to play the second half against the Seattle Seahawks, the Steelers were too emotionally invested in trying to win the game with backup Mason Rudolph to worry about Big Ben’s fate, let alone his future.

But they understood the consequences.

“Ben’s, obviously, tough as can be, and we’ve seen him come back from stuff,” wide receiver Ryan Switzer said. “When we found out he wasn’t, we figured it was probably serious.”

So it was a stunning scene Monday inside their locker room, just 90 minutes after the Steelers announced Roethlisberger’s injury requires surgery that will end his season.

And, given he is 37, quite possibly his Hall of Fame career.

“It’s super weird, that’s for sure,” DeCastro said. “It’s really surreal. But, at the same time, you’ve got to have that football player mentality: next guy up and move on. But, obviously, with a guy like that, it’s a little different, easier said than done.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Was the Steelers trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick a desperation move?

Steelers’ move for Minkah Fitzpatrick bold, calculated -- and a bit desperate

By: Jeremy Fowler, ESPN

On the surface, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to deal a first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick reeks of desperation. They are 0-2, just lost their franchise quarterback for the year and see the Super Bowl window closing fast. The stage was set for Pittsburgh to get a high pick in 2020.

But the Steelers have never done business with draft positioning in mind. Win now is always the culture. The Steelers feel strongly enough about Fitzpatrick’s talent -- and affordable rookie contract with an average base salary of $2.1 million for the next three seasons -- to justify any pick the team could muster in April’s draft.

The move says a lot about where the Steelers are, and where they will be:

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Mason Rudolph’s Media Session

• Social Media Madness