Steelers Opt for Mason Rudolph Over Recovered Kenny Pickett in Crucial Finale

Rudolph's recent performance bolsters Steelers' playoff hopes as they face top-seeded Ravens.

Mason Rudolph will make a third straight start for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, even with Kenny Pickett expected to be available after recovering from right ankle surgery.
Rudolph has thrown for 567 yards and two touchdowns during wins over Cincinnati and Seattle, helping Pittsburgh keep its playoff chances alive.
The Steelers have multiple ways to reach the postseason, most of them predicated on beating the Ravens, who have clinched the top seed in the AFC.
Pickett hasn't played since injuring his right ankle in a loss to Arizona on Dec. 3, and despite being cleared by the medical staff to play, he was inactive as Rudolph guided the offense.
Rudolph, a six-year veteran and one of the longest-tenured players on the roster, will be a free agent in March but his recent performance suggests he'll likely have a chance to stick around in the league next year, possibly even in Pittsburgh.