Dan Zaksheske
Videos by OutKick
Steelers starting quarterback, rookie Kenny Pickett, was knocked out of last week’s game with a concussion. It’s the second time this year Pickett has suffered a head injury.
Because of that, Pickett is highly questionable to play on Sunday at Carolina. Should Pickett sit, Mitch Trubisky likely becomes the starter. He began the season as the team’s starting quarterback before coach Mike Tomlin benched him for Pickett.
But Trubisky replaced Pickett both times the rookie left games injured.
However, if Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson has anything to say about it, he won’t be catching any more passes from Trubisky.
No, Johnson wants to see former second-string Steelers QB, and currently third-stringer, Mason Rudolph back in the starting lineup.
Diontae Johnson might be the first player to ever demand Mason Rudolph start an NFL football game. Even Rudolph knows better than to do that.
Diontae Johnson wants the Steelers to go back to Mason Rudolph over Mitch Trubisky
According to ESPN, the media asked Johnson about the prospect of Rudolph starting Sunday.
“Yeah, I want to see him play,” Johnson said.
“I know he’s ready to play. I know it’s probably in the back of his mind like, ‘Dang, when I’m going get my chance?'” Johnson continued. “I feel like this week is it for him. I know he’s going to do everything it takes to be prepared this week, get ready for Sunday.”
It’s no secret that Johnson is not a big fan of Mitch Trubisky. The pair got into an argument at halftime of the team’s Week 4 game and the Steelers subsequently benched Trubisky for the second half.
Rudolph was 5-3 as a starter in 2019 but has started just two games over the past two seasons (0-0-1). He’s a career 61.5% passer with a 16-11 TD-INT ratio.
Kenny Pickett is clearly the future in Pittsburgh, but Diontae Johnson is ready for Mason Rudolph to be the present.
Follow Dan Zaksheske on Twitter: @OutkickDanZ
I’m definitely not a steeler’s fan, but if Pickoff is their future, they’re going to have an ugly 4 years ahead. Same with Trupicski. Rudy was misled and still played lights out ahead of them in preseason. Tomlin (and the guy running the offense that couldn’t even keep a mid level college gig for more than two years) tried going with a mobile QB thinking it was going to be great. So they start the two mobile QB’s and suck worse than ever. Rudy came off the bench his first year to have a helmet, without an OC or QB coach btw, and did better than what they have now. Go Rudy!!