(Pittsburgh) The improbable resurrection of Mason Rudolph will continue in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he will be banking on the former reserve quarterback again for Sunday’s duel against the AFC East champions, the Bills (11- 6) from Buffalo.
Rudolph is 3-0 since being named the starter, replacing Mitch Trubisky, before the Dec. 23 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Although Steelers No. 1 quarterback Kenny Pickett has recovered from surgery on his right ankle early in December, Tomlin fears it will affect the rhythm of his Rudolph-led offense by sending him into the fray.
Rudolph rushed for 719 yards and threw three touchdown passes, without throwing an interception, as the Steelers defeated the Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers (10-7) slipped into the playoffs for the 11th time in 17 seasons since Tomlin led them.
Rudolph will therefore be in uniform, but star outside linebacker T. J. Watt will not. The NFL leader in sacks injured his left knee in the second half of the game against the Ravens. Rookie Nick Herbig and veteran Markus Golden will try to make up for the loss of Watt, while the Steelers will try to score their first playoff victory since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2016 sectional playoff games.
