![\"Mason](\"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-1017847594-2.jpg\")
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After years of waiting in the wings, Mason Rudolph is finally getting the chance to prove himself as the leader of the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 offense. The backup quarterback, often overlooked and undervalued, is now stepping into the spotlight \u2014 and he\u2019s determined to make the most of the opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a journey, and I\u2019m grateful for every step,\u201d Rudolph shared in a recent interview. \u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot from watching and waiting, but now it\u2019s time to step up. I know what I\u2019m capable of, and I\u2019m ready to take this opportunity and make the most of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Rudolph, this moment has been a long time coming. After being drafted by the Steelers in 2018, the 27-year-old quarterback has spent the majority of his career as a backup, patiently waiting for his chance to take the reins. Now, with the injury to starter Aaron Rodgers, Rudolph\u2019s time has finally arrived. And while stepping into a starting role midseason is no easy task, Rudolph is more than ready for the challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been in this league long enough to know what it takes to win,\u201d he continued. \u201cI\u2019ve had the chance to learn from some of the best \u2014 from Ben [Roethlisberger] to the coaches. I\u2019ve been in those high-pressure situations, and I know what I need to do. Now it\u2019s my turn.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rudolph\u2019s confidence is a product of years of preparation. Though he\u2019s often been called on in relief, he\u2019s never truly been able to showcase his full potential as a starting quarterback. Now that he has the opportunity, he\u2019s focused on leading the team and proving his worth to both the coaches and the fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a backup quarterback can be a grind, but I\u2019ve always stayed ready,\u201d Rudolph explained. \u201cNow I\u2019m here, and I\u2019m not taking it for granted. I\u2019m going to give this team everything I have. The work starts now.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his brief appearances this season, Rudolph has shown flashes of his potential, completing key passes and making smart decisions. But now, he\u2019ll have to prove he can maintain consistency over a full game. The Steelers\u2019 offense has been shaky at times this year, and Rudolph\u2019s ability to steady the ship will be critical as they push for a playoff spot.<\/p>\n
With the support of his teammates and the guidance of head coach Mike Tomlin, Rudolph is prepared to step into the role of starting quarterback. His time has come, and he\u2019s not backing down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what I\u2019m capable of, and I\u2019m ready to show everyone,\u201d Rudolph said confidently. \u201cThis team deserves a quarterback who can lead them to victory, and I\u2019m going to give them exactly that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ fate may now rest in Mason Rudolph\u2019s hands, but with his mindset and determination, he\u2019s ready to seize the moment and prove he\u2019s the man for the job.<\/p>\n
Getty<\/p>\n
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Cleveland Browns\u00a0fans boomed with approval as quarterback\u00a0Shedeur Sanders\u00a0entered an\u00a0NFL\u00a0game for the first time in the second half of the team\u2019s Week 11 contest against the\u00a0Baltimore Ravens, but the rookie didn\u2019t give them much to cheer about after that.<\/p>\n
Sanders finished the day\u00a04-of-16 passing for 47 yards\u00a0and an interception. He also rushed for 16 yards, took two sacks and fumbled once, though Cleveland recovered. Reporters asked Sanders during the postgame about his performance and the fan\u2019s reaction to both him finally getting in a game and fellow rookie\u00a0Dillon Gabriel\u00a0leaving due to a mandatory entrance into the league\u2019s concussion protocol.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Dillon out there playing and all that, I appreciate the fans, I appreciate everybody. But I\u2019m a good person overall, so I don\u2019t really like him not feeling comfortable, confident when he get out there. So it puts everything in a tough spot, and it\u2019s not helping the team,\u201d Sanders said of fans\u2019 previous booing of Gabriel during his struggles.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, that could be taken as, \u2018OK, I\u2019m being a distraction,\u2019 even though I ain\u2019t doing that, even though I\u2019m not doing nothing,\u201d\u00a0Sanders continued. \u201cBut I\u2019m thankful for the supporters, thankful for the fans, thankful for everybody out there that believes. And yeah, when I got out there, I definitely felt them, and I\u2019m truly thankful for it. \u2026 Thankful seeing all them 12 jerseys out there, and it was a great feeling for that. But the feeling of losing, that ain\u2019t nothing we going to get comfortable with on my watch, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
GettyQuarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns.<\/p>\n
Gabriel remains in concussion protocol and while it\u2019s possible doctors could clear him ahead of the team\u2019s Week 12 matchup with the\u00a0Las Vegas Raiders\u00a0next weekend, it is likely that Sanders will get the first start of his career in the desert.<\/p>\n
The Browns must practice this week as though Sanders is going to be the starter, as Gabriel\u2019s status is uncertain. Because of that, the coaching staff is likely to tailor the game plan to Sanders\u2019 strengths and finally afford him the first-team practice reps he\u2019s been lacking since joining the franchise in the fifth round of April\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cSanders is expected to start Sunday\u2019s game vs. the Raiders in Las Vegas, and fourth-year pro\u00a0Bailey Zappe\u00a0will be the backup,\u201d\u00a0Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Monday. \u201cSanders, who had his house broken into during Sunday\u2019s 23-16 loss to the Ravens, will be the 42nd quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999, barring some unexpected occurrence.\u201d<\/p>\n
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel.<\/p>\n
However, head coach\u00a0Kevin Stefanski\u00a0was clear that Gabriel\u00a0will get his starting job back\u00a0from Sanders once he returns healthy.<\/p>\n
The only way Sanders can avoid that fate is to play exceedingly well against the Raiders, who will be coming off a short week following their \u201cMonday Night Football\u201d matchup against the\u00a0Dallas Cowboys\u00a0and who went into the Dallas matchup with a 2-7 record.<\/p>\n
Cleveland, now 2-8, was likely to insert Sanders into the starting lineup at some point late in the season to assess his abilities and the QB room as a whole before a 2026 draft, in which the team has two first-round picks. It is unclear if one and a half games will be enough information for the Browns where Sanders is concerned, should Gabriel return healthy following this weekend.<\/p>\n
Suffice it to say, Cleveland\u2019s upcoming game in Las Vegas is the most important of Sanders\u2019 football career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After years of waiting in the wings, Mason Rudolph is finally getting the chance to prove himself as the leader of the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 offense. The backup quarterback, often overlooked and undervalued,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t