Beyond Aaron Rodgers as the obvious starting quarterback for the Steelers, the rest of the depth chart has questions.
There’s no question, apparently, in the mind of coach Mike McCarthy that veteran Mason Rudolph can be trusted with the No. 2 job.
“Mason Rudolph, I can’t tell you how pleased I am with him,” McCarthy told reporters on Thursday, via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “He throws the ball better than I thought. . . . He’s been impressive.”
A third-round pick of the Steelers in 2018, Rudolph has 34 career regular-season appearances and 19 starts.
The bigger question for the Steelers is the number of quarterbacks they’ll keep on the 53-man roster. Unless they’re going to carry four (which is not unprecedented but unusual), one of the three behind Rodgers will be released — Rudolph, Will Howard, or Drew Allar.
Howard and Allar would have to pass through waivers before being signed to the practice squad. They could get creative and cut Rudolph, with a wink-nod that they’ll sign him to the practice squad and routinely elevate him for games.
Or, as some cynics are suggesting, McCarthy is trying to create a trade market for Rudolph.
Regardless, Rudolph has plenty of experience in NFL games. Howard and Allar have none. They’ll need someone who can play, in the event Rodgers can’t go. Rudolph is the only option who brings that to the table.