3 Steelers players who stood out after week 2 loss vs Seahawks
Mason Rudolph
I’m not going to fib. I was worried sick about how the offense would look without Ben. I kind of feel even worse to say that… the offense looked better.
Ben might have been fighting this injury for longer than we’ve known about it. Remember last year’s elbow injury? He played throughout the year with it. Last week the strip-sack by the Patriots, it looked like he got it bumped as well on that play.
Nonetheless, after a miserable start by Rudolph (courtesy of Moncrief, who’d a thought?) he got things rolling on a massive play to Juju Smith-Schuster. It was downhill from there.
Rudolph, in reality, looked every bit of the quarterback the Steelers only hoped Dobbs and Jones would be–both no longer on the roster. He also showed that he is ready to seize this moment.
Steelers Nation remembers that fateful September day in 2004. Ben filled in for an injured Tommy Maddox (who ironically injured his elbow) and threw an early interception. He finished the day with two touchdowns just like Rudolph.
It is a huge disservice to compare Ben now to Maddox then. It’s clear to me Ben is fighting this injury and was not ready to go completely. The production picked up a lot better once Rudolph got his feet underneath him.
The Steelers for the second year in a row and third time this decade are winless through the first two weeks of the season. The trip to San Francisco next week will be pivotal. There is not a ton of things to be optimistic about–but there is a little light at the end of the tunnel.
All eyes will be on the injury list with Ben Roethlisberger’s status not having any updates after the game. Mason Rudolph will have to be ready to face a tough 49ers team next week.
Breathe, Steelers Nation. We have a lot of football left.