Steelers sticking with Rudolph at QB against the Ravens even with Pickett available
The Pittsburgh Steelers are sticking with Mason Rudolph ahead of their pivotal regular-season finale against Baltimore.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Rudolph will make a third straight start for the Steelers even with Kenny Pickett expected to be available after recovering from right ankle surgery. Rudolph has been spectacular at times while throwing for 567 yards and two touchdowns during wins over Cincinnati and Seattle to help Pittsburgh keep its playoff chances alive.
The Steelers have multiple ways to reach the postseason, most of them predicated on beating the Ravens on Saturday. Baltimore clinched the top seed in the AFC by dismantling Miami on Sunday and could sit several regulars — including MVP candidate Lamar Jackson — with home-field advantage wrapped up.
Pittsburgh will prepare as if Jackson is playing and even if Jackson is given the day off, Rudolph will likely have to deal with a defense that’s allowed the fewest points in the league. Rudolph has certainly looked up to the challenge while providing a welcome (and long overdue) spark.
“He’s done a good job and we’ve done a good job in the most recent two weeks,” Tomlin said. “We’ve taken care of the ball. He’s taken care of the ball. We’ve scored points at a rate which we hadn’t done to this point this year. And with the urgency of the moment and because of those reasons, we’re going to leave the ball in his hands.”
Pickett hasn’t played since injuring his right ankle late in the first half of what became a 24-10 loss to Arizona on Dec. 3. He underwent “tightrope” surgery on the ankle shortly thereafter and returned to practice two weeks ago.
LIONS: Detroit coach Dan Campbell said he has moved on from a disputed call at Dallas that led to a loss and took away a shot at the top seed in the NFC. Campbell said in his weekly news conference Monday that he has “controlled fury” and he’s channeling it as the Lions prepare for their regular-season finale against NFC North rival Minnesota.
BROWNS: Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said he may rest his starters for Sunday’s regular-season finale against Cincinnati. Red-hot quarterback Joe Flacco could be among those who doesn’t play much if at all in the meaningless game. The Browns, who clinched their second playoff berth since 2002, are locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
49ERS: NFL leading rusher Christian McCaffrey will miss San Francisco’s regular-season finale with a mild calf strain but should be ready to return for the playoffs. McCaffrey got hurt in Sunday’s win at Washington that helped the 49ers clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville could get quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Christian Kirk back for their regular-season finale at Tennessee. The game will help determine the AFC South. Lawrence missed Sunday’s 26-0 drubbing of Carolina because of a sprained throwing shoulder. Kirk sat out the past four games while recovering from groin surgery.
FALCONS: Atlanta’s season of uncertainty at quarterback will continue. Falcons coach Arthur Smith said Taylor Heinicke, who left last Sunday’s loss to Chicago with a left ankle injury, will try to return this week for the season finale. Even so, Smith said Heinicke’s status for this Sunday’s game at New Orleans probably will not be known before Friday.
DLPHINS: Miami pass rusher Bradley Chubb has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel confirmed the injury on Monday. Chubb got hurt in the final minutes of Sunday’s loss at Baltimore. He went down after trying to make a tackle and grabbed at his right knee.
PACKERS: Green Bay signed Bo Melton to its practice squad one day after his breakthrough performance in a victory over Minnesota. Melton caught six passes for 105 yards against the Vikings. He scored his first career touchdown in the third quarter and finished with the first 100-yard receiving performance by any Packer this season.
RAMS: Los Angeles waived struggling kicker Lucas Havrisik and coach Sean McVay said Brett Maher will return to kick for the Rams nine games after they waived him. Los Angeles’ 11 missed field goals this season are the most by an NFL team since 2015, and their 15 total missed kicks are the most in the league this season.
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