PITTSBURGH — All Mason Rudolph wanted was a fair shot to compete for the starting position to replace Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback he backed up for four seasons. At the very least, he wanted to make sure he got equal opportunity to just hold onto the No. 2 spot.
But, despite being "much better than last year" and the "most ready I've ever been" to be a starter, Rudolph is none of the above.
He has been demoted to the No. 3 quarterback spot, behind Mitch Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett, and, for the first time since his rookie season in 2018, won't even dress for Sunday's season opener in Cincinnati. Disappointing isn't too strong a word to describe his feeling.
