Steelers’ Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph got the exit permit with immediate effect.
Kenny Pickett has once again been ruled out, so Mason Rudolph is in and will start at quarterback when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced Pickett’s status and his decision at quarterback Thursday. Mitchell Trubisky, who started the last two games, will be the backup.
After saying the door was “ajar” for Pickett to play — less than three weeks after undergoing “TightRope” surgery on his right ankle — the second-year signal-caller practiced on a limited basis all week.
Rudolph, who played six snaps in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts last week, will start his first game since 2021. He faced the Detroit Lions in Week 10 that season and finished with 242 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the 16-16 tie.
When asked Tuesday about the possibility of playing under center, the veteran expressed excitement for himself and said his teammates were supportive. Tomlin said he made the move to Rudolph because he wants to create spark on offense.
The Steelers (7-7) are just outside of the AFC playoff picture as five teams sit ahead of them at 8-6, including the Bengals. Pittsburgh is on a three-game losing streak, but they face a Cincinnati team that will play without top wideout Ja’Marr Chase and that the Steelers have already beat.
The Cincinnati Bengals will have to continue their fight for a playoff spot this weekend without the services of Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase will miss Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering an AC joint sprain during their Week 15 win over the Minnesota Vikings — a game he did not finish. The wide receiver leads the Bengals with 93 receptions, 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had said on Monday Chase was day-to-day, but an MRI showed the extent of the damage, and after missing three practices this week he is now considered week-to-week.
Taylor did not indicate just how long Chase would be out.
“We’ve got significant length before the next game from where are today,” Taylor said. “So we’ll just continue to go from there.”
The 8-6 Bengals are currently the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture, with the 7-7 Steelers right behind them in the AFC North.
Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins will now be Jake Browning’s main receiving weapons as the Bengals face the Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns to finish the regular season.
“You’ve got to have weapons to be successful in this league,” Taylor said. “We’ve always known that and so again, it’s not always going to be perfect.”
Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill remained out of practice Wednesday.
He has not practiced since Dec. 9 when he got in limited work with an ankle injury. He aggravated the injury two days later on a hip-drop tackle by Titans defensive back Sean Murphy-Bunting.
“That’s not any indication of left or right,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of Hill missing practice. “It’s more just us trying to make sure that we have all cylinders go.”
Hill was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Jets after a pregame workout to try out his left ankle.
The Dolphins are hoping to have him back this week against the Cowboys.
Running back De’Von Achane (toe), left tackle Terron Armstead (knee/ankle), cornerback Xavien Howard (hip), offensive lineman Robert Hunt (hamstring), offensive lineman Austin Jackson (oblique) and running back Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle/rest) also did not practice.
Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg (calf), safety DeShon Elliott (concussion), safety Jevon Holland (knees), cornerback Kader Kohou (hip), defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (hamstring), cornerback Jalen Ramsey (rest), cornerback Cam Smith (hamstring), tight end Durham Smythe (ankle) and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (oblique/nose) were limited.
The Dolphins’ injury list tells the story of their offensive line: They are banged up.
“They are earning stripes and metal with every single one of their teammates,” McDaniel said. “The rarified air to be . . . I mean the whole group really has battled things throughout the whole season.”
