The Facts: Rudolph will get his first start since the 2021 season when the Steelers play host to the Bengals on Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium. Head coach Mike Tomlin said he made the decision based on the performance of Mitch Trubisky in his two starts since starter Kenny Pickett went out with an ankle injury. “We’re not going to sit on our hands and hope for a different outcome,” Tomlin said Monday.

Diehards Line: Tomlin termed Pickett questionable to begin the week. He will practice and has not been ruled out for Saturday’s game. Pickett had surgery to repair his high ankle sprain after the Steelers lost to the Cardinals earlier this month. Rudolph’s most recent start came against the Lions in the middle of the 2021 season when Ben Roethlisberger was injured. That game ended in a tie. He is 5-4-1 as a starter since being drafted out of Oklahoma State in the third round of the 2018 draft. All five of his victories came during the 2019 season when he took over for Roethlisberger after he suffered a season-ending elbow injury.