Quarterback, Devlin Hodges, came out of his first NFL game with a win. Should he be given an equal shot to win the quarterback job for the Steelers?
The Steelers are now one win richer. After 99 percent of experts on NFL Pick Watch chose the Los Angeles Chargers to win on Sunday Night Football, Pittsburgh defied the odds and emerged victorious.
Though the defense was largely responsible for the dominant performance over the Chargers, many fans were infatuated by the poise and play of the undrafted rookie quarterback, Devlin Hodges.
Hodges made the first start of his career on the west coast – a region the Steelers haven’t won a game in since the 2015 season. Pittsburgh certainly had an uphill battle as they leaned on a former practice squad quarterback to keep their season alive. Devlin Hodges helped to do exactly that.
Though his statistics were nothing to ride home about, his composure and willingness to sling the ball had some fans comparing him to Jaguars rookie standout, Gardner Minshew.
Mason Rudolph was fairly impressive in his first few games in the NFL, but a scary concussion that left the former Oklahoma State quarterback unconscious and motionless on the field is not something that should be taken lightly.
With Rudolph in concussion protocol and Hodges coming away victorious in his first NFL game, this begs the questions: Should Devlin Hodges be given a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job in Pittsburgh?
Mason Rudolph looks the part. He’s 6’5” and 235 pounds, he comes from a bigger football program, and he’s a former 3rd round draft choice. Obviously, we would love for him to take a step forward and develop into the Steelers quarterback of the future.
Then there is Devlin Hodges. “Duck” Hodges (as he is often referred to) doesn’t possess ideal size (6’1” and 210 pounds) or traits. However, he has a few things going for him.
Hodges is a record-setting quarterback who was insanely productive during his days at Samford. He recorded 111 touchdown passes during his four years as a starting quarterback.
During training camp, Hodges was more than just a camp arm, and recent reports surfaced that Mike Tomlin and the Steelers offensive staff wanted to Hodges on the roster over Josh Dobbs.
Even with the bye week, it’s unclear when Mason Rudolph will be cleared to suit up. If he is, should the Steelers give him a bit more time to recover?
Please don’t get me wrong; I’m not endorsing as the starting quarterback for the Steelers. I just think that it is crucial for Pittsburgh to weigh all of their options and consider Rudolph’s long-term health in the process.
It’s entirely possible that the answer at quarterback isn’t even on the team yet. But with Mason Rudolph starting 1-2 in his NFL career and coming off a serious concussion, perhaps the Steelers should consider giving Devlin Hodges a chance to win the job at quarterback for now.