Insider: Gap between Steelers' Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph 'isn't that great'

Free-agent signing Mitchell Trubisky began the week atop the depth chart at the quarterback position for the Pittsburgh Steelers over career backup Mason Rudolph and first-round draft selection Kenny Pickett. While Pickett allegedly may not be ready to face first-team defenses in meaningful games anytime soon, it seems Rudolph is closing whatever gap separates him and Trubisky ahead of Saturday's preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

Rudolph has reportedly been "the team's most accurate quarterback" during training camp practices, and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin still hasn't publicly said who will play when and for how long versus Seattle at Acrisure Stadium. For an update offered Tuesday, ESPN's Brooke Pryor suggested Rudolph has a legitimate opportunity to win the supposed competition even though The Athletic's Mark Kaboly previously noted he thinks there's only a "minimal" chance that happens. 

"Mitch Trubisky is listed as the starter on the first depth chart released by the Steelers. He has taken almost all of the first-team reps through the first two weeks of training camp and has shown improvement in recent days," Pryor explained. "Even so, Mason Rudolph has looked sharp, suggesting the distance between the two isn't that great. After a rough start, first-round pick Kenny Pickett is playing better, too, though he still appears to be third behind the veterans."

It's been widely assumed since springtime workouts that Tomlin wants to start Trubisky in Week 1 at the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, and it's also unclear if Rudolph can do anything in upcoming exhibition matchups against the Seahawks, the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 20 and the Detroit Lions on Aug. 28 to change his coach's mind. For now, interested fans will be curious to see who among the three signal-callers impresses versus Seattle on Saturday.