It didn't take long for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 1 matchup to hit the news cycle. Hours before the official NFL Schedule Release on NFL Network, it was leaked that the Steelers would be facing the New York Jets on the road for their opening game of the season.
On the surface, there are worse matchups for quarterback Mason Rudolph, who is currently the QB1 on the Steelers' roster. But when we follow the tea leaves, this feels like a bad omen for his chances of taking the field in Week 1.
When the Steelers vs. Jets contest was announced, we immediately thought of Justin Fields. The polarizing quarterback and ex-Steelers starter will get a shot at revenge against Mike Tomlin and his former team in his first game with New York.
However, we also couldn't ignore how well this matchup is setting the stage for an Aaron Rodgers signing.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets could spell doom for Mason Rudolph
Is there a better way to usher in NFL chaos than to have two notable quarterbacks seeking revenge on their former teams in the same game? That's exactly what the league would be getting if Rodgers signs with the Steelers. As Justin Fields looks to prove Tomlin made a mistake by benching him, Rodgers would be out to stick it to a Jets organization that put him in a disastrous situation last season.
Of course, this would require Rodgers signing with the Steelers—something many NFL experts believe is still bound to happen. While this Week 1 AFC showdown doesn't prove anything, it's a bad look for Mason Rudolph's chances of starting the season opener.
Rudolph, who turns 30 years old this summer, is looking for one more chance to prove he can be a starter in this league. The 2018 third-round pick by the Steelers is 9-8-1 as an NFL starter with 28 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
If Rodgers signs with the Steelers, Rudolph can likely kiss any shot of earning a massive payday goodbye. His only route to significant playing time would be an injury to Rodgers.
There's always a chance that Aaron Rodgers doesn't want to return to the field, and the Pittsburgh Steelers go into the season with Mason Rudolph as their starter. If this happens, maybe he could light it up against the New York Jets in Week 1. Unfortunately for Rudolph, the Steelers vs. Jets leaked Week 1 matchup feels like a bad omen for his chances of being the starter when the season begins.