Who is the Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback?

With Ben Roethlisberger out on Sunday due to testing positive for COVID, a familiar face will once again be under center for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they take on the Detroit Lions.

No, Ben Roethlisberger will not be able to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

The future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday night. Given the quick turnaround ahead of Sunday’s home game vs. the Detroit Lions, there is no way he would be able to test out in time for the game. Even without Roethlisberger, the Steelers are an overwhelming favorite to win on Sunday, as the Lions are the last winless team left in the NFL.

Has Roethlisberger been vaccinated and who will be forced into the starting lineup in his absence?

Is Ben Roethlisberger vaccinated?

Yes, Roethlisberger is vaccinated. He said that he was very recently on The Dan Patrick Show.

Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart: Mason Rudolph is the backup, Dwayne Haskins is his backup

With Roethlisberger being ruled out for Sunday, that means Mason Rudolph will be getting the start at quarterback for the Steelers. His backup Dwayne Haskins moves up to No. 2 on the depth chart for the Lions game on Sunday. Rudolph was a former third-round pick out of Oklahoma State by the Steelers and he has started a few games for them, most notably during the 2019 season.

As for Haskins, the former first-round pick by Washington was cut less than two years after leaving Ohio State. Though he has a bust label attached to his name now, he is still very early in his NFL career. There are very few organizations as stable as the Steelers, so maybe he can reinvent himself to some degree playing for this team? If not, then he will be out of the league in no time.

For now, the Steelers have to lean on Rudolph and Haskins if they want to defeat the Lions.