3 reasons Steelers fans shouldn’t panic without Big Ben

2. The skill position players can elevate the quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger is out for the year. It’s not as if he took all of Pittsburgh’s talented skill players with him. Guys like James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster will still be on the field for the Steelers next week. They have the talent to improve their play and elevate Rudolph in the process.

It’s safe to assume that the Steelers will put a renewed emphasis on the ground game moving forward. Tomlin and his coaching staff will want to keep things relatively simple for Rudolph. That means Conner is going to get a ton of carries. Don’t be surprised to see Jaylen Samuels and even Benny Snell get an uptick in work too. If Pittsburgh can impose their will at the line of scrimmage it’s going to make life a lot easier for Rudolph.

When Pittsburgh is forced to throw, they still have one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the NFL at their disposal. Smith-Schuster is off to a bit of a slow start, but he came to life in the second half against Seattle. He might see his target volume drop a little bit in Big Ben’s absence, but he’s still a guy who can really worry opposing defenses. That creates room for everyone on this offense to make plays.

Steelers fans should also keep a close eye on James Washington in the coming weeks. He was a college teammate of Rudolph’s and the two have excellent chemistry with one another. This is a great chance for the former Oklahoma State stars to reprise their collegiate glory in the NFL.