Latest news with #MasonRudolph
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Legend Proclaims 'Thin Margin of Error' for Rookie QB
Steelers Legend Proclaims 'Thin Margin of Error' for Rookie QB originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As a sixth-round draft pick, Will Howard's chances of eventually becoming the starting quarterback are not great. Advertisement First off, he's already behind the 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, Aaron Rodgers for at least this season. Second, he's going to have to beat Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson to get closer to Rodgers on the depth chart, and per legendary Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, that could be tough. "Will Howard is behind the eight-ball big time in the sense that he was a sixth-rounder," Roethlisberger said on his "Footbahlin" podcast. "Unless he comes out at some point this year, he'd have to play this year. Not just practice. Aaron would have to get hurt; we don't want that, but Will would have to play and play well. Otherwise, they're probably gonna go draft a quarterback high. "When they draft a quarterback high, they're most likely not going to put the sixth-rounder in above a high draft pick ... Will's road is going to be tough here in Pittsburgh, I believe. Unless he gets a chance to get out there and he plays well from the get-go, he's not gonna be able to have hiccups." Advertisement Howard has five year of experience in the college ranks, splitting time between Kansas State and Ohio State, winning a national championship with the Buckeyes last season. But that doesn't always translate to the NFL, especially during a rookie season. Related: Steelers' Terry Bradshaw Cracks Top 15 Best NFL Quarterbacks Ever Related: Steelers' New Corner Brings Health Concerns This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph pays respect to Minkah Fitzpatrick in touching farewell
Once a Steeler, always a Steeler — a mindset QB Mason Rudolph took to heart when saying farewell to his former teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick. Two days after Pittsburgh traded away Fitzpatrick for the Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith, Rudolph took to social media to say goodbye to the ex-Steelers safety: Advertisement "Ultimate pro, ultimate leader. See you when I see you, [Minkah]." Their paths have been somewhat interconnected — Fitzpatrick was traded from Miami to the Steel City in 2019, the same year Rudolph received his very first start as a Steeler. Steelers QB Mason Rudolph says goodbye to Minkah Fitzpatrick on social media, days after he was traded to the Dolphins. Rudolph will have his first chance to 'see' Fitzpatrick, this season — but on opposing sides, when the Steelers host the Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Week 15, on December 15. The Steelers will reportedly roll out their trio of talented cornerbacks to replace Fitzpatrick's presence on defense — but there's no replacing the leadership and dedication he brought to Pittsburgh. Advertisement For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Mason Rudolph gives heartfelt farewell to Minkah Fitzpatrick
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
One thought on every Steelers offensive player currently on the roster
In less than one month, Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. Given the significant addition at the quarterback position — maybe you've heard — it should be one of the more well-attended and eventful preseasons in recent memory, even for fans who flock to Latrobe annually just to watch practice. Advertisement While Rodgers rallies his receivers in California to develop some early chemistry and the Steelers enjoy their final weeks of the offseason, let's take stock of the roster with one thought on every player. Today, we're tackling the offense. In a future story, we'll break down the defense. Aaron Rodgers: Will he look more like a four-time MVP or a 41-year-old, and can he stay healthy to help Mike Tomlin snap his eight-year postseason winless streak? Mason Rudolph: How much will he see the field after rejoining the Steelers on a two-year deal? Aging quarterbacks often get injured, so he'll need to be ready. Will Howard: Rodgers has taken a hands-on mentorship approach with the rookie. Can Howard parlay his apprenticeship into a starting opportunity in 2026? Skylar Thompson: He beat out Howard once before in college, but it appears he's slated for the practice squad if he's not scooped up by another team on cutdown day. Jaylen Warren: Is the shifty, former undrafted free agent ready to carry the load in 2025, or will it be a by-committee approach in Year 1 without Najee Harris? Kaleb Johnson: After excelling in Iowa's wide-zone attack, he's a perfect scheme fit for Arthur Smith's offense. How quickly can he improve his pass protection to become a three-down capable back? Kenneth Gainwell: How creative will the Steelers be in getting the speedy ball carrier involved out of the backfield, especially in the passing game? And how does Gainwell fit with another great third-down back (Warren) already in the fold? Cordarrelle Patterson: Why haven't the Steelers cut him yet? Smith has a soft spot for the once-great return man, but the offensive coordinator didn't even mention Patterson when talking about the running backs group during the offseason. Trey Sermon: A career backup, Sermon started three games for the Indianapolis Colts last year. He carried the ball 56 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 99 yards out of the backfield. Given the depth ahead of him, he'll have an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, but he could be a good player to stash on the practice squad. Advertisement Evan Hull: The 24-year-old has yet to carry the ball in the NFL and needs to star on special teams for an outside shot at the roster. Max Hurleman: After starting his college career at Colgate and later transferring to Notre Dame, Hurleman has experience as a receiver and defensive back but will try to make the NFL as a running back. Special teams is this UDFA's best path to a pro career. DK Metcalf: We know he'll be a great big-bodied deep threat and a physical presence in the run game. But will he run the precise routes that Rodgers demands? Additionally, do the Steelers have enough depth behind Metcalf in case he gets injured? Calvin Austin III: Receivers coach Zach Azzanni gave Austin the WR2 title during the offseason. Can Austin keep it and build upon his 2025 season in a contract year? Related: Will the Steelers sign Austin ahead of camp or let him play out his final year? Roman Wilson: He feasted on in-breaking routes over the middle of the field at Michigan, which should fit Rodgers' skills. Can he stay healthy after enduring numerous injuries that robbed the third-round pick of his rookie season and help make the WR group deeper than most anticipate? Robert Woods: Wearing No. 16, Woods joked he has one-half of Hines Ward's No. 86. Will a player who models his game after the former Steelers great bring the same physicality to become a reliable contributor at 33 years old? Ben Skowronek: Smith affectionately called Skowronek a 'dirtbag' last year. His physicality as a blocker and excellent gunning ability make him the most likely candidate to claim the last spot in the receivers group, barring another addition. Scotty Miller: Skowronek's special teams contributions could help him earn the final roster spot, but will Miller's route running and history with Smith make this a competition for the last spot in this room? Advertisement Roc Taylor: At 6 feet 2 and 213 pounds, Taylor has a muscular frame that makes him a red zone threat. However, he struggles to create separation, which could limit his effectiveness. He could be a developmental project for the practice squad. Montana Lemonious-Craig: The 6-foot-2 receiver recorded 172 receiving yards last season at the University of Arizona before signing as an undrafted free agent. Lance McCutcheon: In 2022, he was a special teams contributor on the Los Angeles Rams with 110 snaps in the third phase of the game, but he hasn't played in an NFL game since. Ke'Shawn Williams: He caught 39 passes for 448 yards and five touchdowns at Indiana University last year and will have an uphill climb to make the team. Pat Freiermuth: He actively recruited Rodgers in Instagram DMs. Can he help Rodgers unlock the middle of the field and continue to be a reliable zone coverage beater? Darnell Washington: Rodgers has likened Washington to Marcedes Lewis. Is this the year Washington is more than just an in-line blocker? Connor Heyward: His special teams value and positional versatility likely help him secure a roster spot. For what it's worth, his brother was a bit of a late bloomer, so maybe his best ball is ahead of him. JJ Galbreath: The Steelers carried four TEs last year and used the most three-tight-end formations in the league. After Donald Parham Jr.'s injury, can this undrafted rookie make the team? DJ Thomas-Jones: Smith used a fullback often in Atlanta. Will Thomas-Jones prove enough to make the Steelers consider featuring one more often this year? Maybe this TE/FB can be the fourth 'tight end' they carry. Broderick Jones: He holds an important place in Steelers history as the first-ever draft pick in the general manager Omar Khan era. Will the switch to left tackle help him become a reason the offensive line wins games for the Steelers when it matters? A fifth-year option decision awaits after this season, so it's time to make an impact. Advertisement Isaac Seumalo: Will his experience and physicality show up more often now that he's surrounded by better pieces up front? At 32 and in the final year of his deal, how much longer will he be part of an offensive line in transition? Is he another candidate for an extension, or will he be moving on next year? Zach Frazier: After a stellar rookie season, can Frazier take the next step to become a Pro Bowler in Year 2? Mason McCormick: Thrust into a starting role last year due to injury, McCormick played about as well as one could hope for a fourth-round rookie. Can his physical playing style help the Steelers establish the run more consistently this year? Troy Fautanu: An injury kept Fautanu from showing his promise as a rookie. The Steelers need him to be solid to protect Rodgers, who was the worst QB in the league (min. 300 attempts) by EPA/play against the blitz, according to TruMedia? Ryan McCollum: He was steady in relief for Frazier last year, which should help him claim a job as a backup. Calvin Anderson: Is he the swing tackle or will the Steelers find an outside upgrade in camp? Spencer Anderson: He can play all five positions, but where will he provide the most value? Dylan Cook: A former QB turned offensive lineman, Cook has yet to make his NFL debut and might be on the outside looking in on cutdown day. A potential practice squad candidate. Max Scharping: One of several backup candidates in a room full of backup guards. Doug Nester: A backup guard out of West Virginia, Nester spent the entire 2024 season on the practice squad. He'll have more competition to stay there. Steven Jones: Another backup guard, Jones spent the 2024 season on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad. Nick Broeker: A three-year starter at Ole Miss, Broeker didn't miss a single game (48 consecutive contests). He started 23 career games at left tackle and 13 at left guard, which gives him some positional versatility to earn a spot as a backup or on the practice squad. Advertisement Gareth Warren: A rookie OT, he'll look to make a big leap from Lindenwold University to the pros. Aiden Williams: He grew up in Alaska and started his college career as a zero-star recruit at tight end. He made the transition to tackle and will have to continue moving inside to guard due to his lack of length. Could be a practice squad project the Steelers try to bulk up. (Top photos of Broderick Jones and DK Metcalf: Justin K. Aller /Getty Images)
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers 2025 training camp preview: Quarterback
It's been dark times for the Pittsburgh Steelers at quarterback since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. 2025 will mark the fourth straight season since Big Ben's retirement that Pittsburgh will have a new starting quarterback. IN just a month, the Steelers will get together for training camp and will have four brand new quarterbacks on the roster compared to last season. Is this a recipe for mediocrity, or will this new mix be the formula that finally gets the Steelers out of their playoff slump? Aaron Rodgers After courting each other for all of the offseason, Rodgers finally signed with the Steelers just before mandatory minicamp. Rodgers can still play but he's simply a one-year stopgap player at the end of his career. Rodgers is in a different spot than Russell Wilson was last season as he's completely unopposed for the starting job, you have to wonder how hard he's going to work for the team or if he will serve as any sort of mentor for the young players. Mason Rudolph Rudolph re-signed with the Steelers in the offseason and brought the same level of maturity and professionalism he had during his first tenure with the team. Rudolph spent all of the offseason prior to the Rodgers signing preparing to be the starting and we expect him to spend every day at training camp working like he is the starter to do the best for his team. Will Howard Howard was taken in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft and we appreciate the level of humility and effort Howard is showing. It's a long shot that he overtakes Rudolph but with most reports centering on the Steelers going all-in for a quarterback in 2026, Howard knows he has to outwork everything to have a future with the Steelers. Skyler Thompson Thompson was the first of the Steelers new quarterbacks this offseason but will also be the first one released. Pittsburgh only carries three quaterbacks so the best thing Thompson can do at training camp is to play well enough to catch the eye of another team. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers 2025 training camp preview: Quarterback
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Metcalf Says Steelers Trying to Replicate Defense's Key Trait
Metcalf Says Steelers Trying to Replicate Defense's Key Trait originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The two biggest additions of the Pittsburgh Steelers' offseason came on opposite ends of the spring. In March, the Steelers traded for Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf. In June, they added his quarterback. Advertisement Aaron Rodgers doesn't move the needle on Pittsburgh's slim Super Bowl hopes, but he makes the Steelers better in the short term and amplifies Metcalf's strengths. Getting everyone on the same page will be one of the biggest tasks of the team's summer, perhaps headlined by a trip to Malibu to visit Rodgers. In the meantime, Pittsburgh is practicing, and Mason Rudolph has received plenty of starting reps before Rodgers' arrival. Reflecting on his offseason workouts with his new team, Metcalf said the Steelers' offense is trying to replicate a key trait from the defense. 'The defense is great, just going against them after yesterday — high energy group, very communicative,' Metcalf said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 'I was joking with Calvin [Austin III] that for the first play out there, I couldn't hear any of the checks that Mason [Rudolph] — or the snap count that Mason was saying, 'cause the defense was talking so much. It's just refreshing to see a defense that communicates, and we're just trying to model our game after them.' Advertisement For fans who remember the slide the Steelers took down the stretch in 2024, Metcalf's comments are curious. The back seven was consistently one step short in the back half of the season, a struggle that – from afar – seemed to be a symptom of poor communication. However, there is reason to believe Pittsburgh improved on this front through the offseason. Much of the defense remains unchanged, granting the unit the privilege of continuity. One position the Steelers upgraded was at corner, swapping out Donte Jackson for Darius Slay, adding Super Bowl pedigree and over a decade of experience to the room. On offense, Pittsburgh underwent more drastic changes, although its true talent level remains fairly similar. Last year's leading passer, rusher, and receiver have all found new homes. Metcalf and Rodgers will play the biggest roles in the 2025 offense, and it's hard to imagine the unit flourishing without a strong rapport between the two. With Rodgers' accuracy and Metcalf's proclivity for stretching the field, fireworks could very well be in store. Advertisement Related: Early Reviews Are in on Steelers' New Connection Related: LOOK: Rodgers, Metcalf Together at Steelers Star's Charity Event This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
