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Steelers' Mason Rudolph Has Cringeworthy Beginning Opening Door For UDFA Tanner Morgan

Originally posted on Steeler Nation | By Bob Quinn | Last updated 7/30/23

The Pittsburgh Steelers have completed the fourth day of training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. In 2022, the Steelers were embroiled in a quarterback competition between Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph. Trubisky won the job and started for the first four games of 2022 before giving way to Pickett. Rudolph developed a solid grip on a clipboard and did not dress for most of the Steelers' games.

Fast forward to the summer of 2023 and the top of the quarterback depth chart is set in Pittsburgh. Under a new NFL rule based on the debacle in the 2022 NFC Championship Game, teams can dress a third quarterback without counting towards the game-day roster limit. Rudolph returned to the Steelers and seemed to have a lock on the spot going into camp, with his only competition being undrafted free agent, Tanner Morgan.

Steelers Mason Rudolph Looks Rusty In Training Camp

Rudolph got off to a slow start on day one of training camp and threw the first pick of 2023 for the Steelers' offense. Steeler Nation’s, Brandon Wallace chalked up the day one struggles to rust. It didn’t seem like a big deal just three days ago.

Riley was probably my standout today. He had the early INT and the Steelers look like they want to use him on defense in some capacity (slot or safety).

Rudolph and Calvin really struggled today, but it’s EARLY! I’m not worried. It’s only Day 1.

Kenny looked great. #HereWeGo
— B-Wall (@BWall) July 27, 2023

Morgan signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent from the Minnesota Gophers. He had a fantastic redshirt sophomore season in 2019, but tailed off badly during his last three seasons with the Gophers. Morgan threw for 30 touchdowns in 2019 and combined for 24 over his last three seasons. The rookie got his first snaps in practice on Sunday and demonstrated he was playing for a roster spot.

McFarland with a nice gain on a swing pass. Two plays later, Tanner Morgan comes in for his second stint. He goes DEEP, but it’s batted down by Chris Wilcox. #HereWeGo
— B-Wall (@BWall) July 30, 2023

One of the biggest knocks on Rudolph, when he did get regular-season opportunities, was his willingness to check down too fast. The Steelers paid Rudolph to return after no one wanted him in free agency. If he continues to play nonchalantly, Rudolph will be in real trouble if he continues to throw interceptions.

Mason Rudolph tried a deep ball to Calvin Austin, but Kenny Robinson was waiting on it and picked off a jump ball.

Diontae Johnson was wide open, didn’t say anything but put his hands out like he didn’t understand the throw, shaking his head. #Steelers
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) July 30, 2023

Rudolph has now had multiple bad practices in training camp. It was a surprise when he re-signed with the Steelers in the offseason, but it seemed like he was willing to let bygones be bygones. If Rudolph plays at his previous level of production, he is easily good enough to win the third quarterback job. But his current level of play belies a careless arrogance that has too often been attributed to him during his Steelers career.

The former Oklahoma State quarterback has a very loyal fan base. It is hard to see how even they could defend his current play, however. The normal tropes of how unfair he was treated and that he never got an opportunity are in the past. He willingly came back to Pittsburgh and knew what awaited him. Rudolph is dragging a lot of baggage and can't afford to lose this opportunity.

Morgan's aggression has at least earned him a chance to compete with Rudolph for preseason playing time. Rudolph shined in his first opportunity in 2022 against the Seattle Seahawks. He tossed George Pickens his first professional touchdown on a great throw.

After that highlight, Pickett came on and led a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback. It was just a question of when Pickett would takeover from that point on in the preseason. Rudolph has to stop playing like he is sipping sour grapes wine if he wants to make the 2023 Steelers. Morgan is just the type of plucky underdog story that Steelers fans will get behind if it is a close competition.

This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.

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