Mason Rudolph acknowledged that he had no communication with Ben Roethlisberger after Roethlisberger was ruled out of last Sunday's game after testing positive for COVID-19. So it should come as no surprise that Rudolph has not received any inside information as it relates to Roethlisberger's status for the Steelers' upcoming road game against the Chargers just three days away.
Rudolph, who went 30 of 50 for 242 yards with a touchdown and an interception during Pittsburgh's tie against Detroit last Sunday, said that Roethlisberger has been meeting virtually this week with quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan. Rudolph said that he knows as much as the general public does as it relates to Roethlisberger, who needs two negative test results at least 24 hours apart before he would be eligible to play. With Roethlisberger still on the COVID-19 list, Rudolph has continued to get practice reps with Pittsburgh's first-team offense.
"Whether he plays or not is out of my control," Rudolph said, via 93.7 The Fan. "What I can control is having good practices and leading the guys. Prepping hard with Matt (Canada) and Sully and see what happens later in the week."
Rudolph also assessed his first start of the 2021 season, a game that ended in a tie after the Steelers fumbled the ball twice in overtime.
"There was a lot to take in. Obviously, not good enough to win," Rudolph said. "There were some throws I missed. I was proud of how we battled back and put ourselves in position to win the game a couple times. Had the ball not roll our way with a couple of costly turnovers."
A third-round pick in the 2018 draft, Rudolph is Pittsburgh's highest-drafted quarterback since the franchise used the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft to select Roethlisberger. Rudolph, who went 5-3 as a starter when Roethlisberger went down with an injury in 2019, signed a one-year extension this past offseason to remain with the team through the 2022 season. Given Roethlisberger's unknown status beyond the 2021 season, Rudolph is essentially auditioning to be Big Ben's heir apparent in the event Pittsburgh's future Hall of Fame quarterback is not back next season.
Given the stakes, Rudolph surely wants another chance to be the Steelers' starting quarterback in a regular season game. That being said, the 26-year-old veteran said that he is prepared to embrace whatever role is asked of him between now and kickoff on Sunday night.
"I hope I get the opportunity," Rudolph said about Pittsburgh's upcoming game. "If not, I will support the crap out of Ben and our team. I will adjust."