Mason Rudolph won’t close the door on Steelers, but it’s already locked

Mason Rudolph is entering free agency, but he won’t completely close the door on another go-around with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s very nice of Mason Rudolph to think of the Steelers, but a reunion isn’t all that likely.

Rudolph finished third in Pittsburgh’s quarterback competition during training camp. He didn’t receive reps during the season and therefore his value diminished. The Oklahoma State product wasn’t even a trade asset at the deadline.

Once heralded as the heir-apparent to Ben Roethlisberger when he was drafted, Rudolph’s most remembered moment in black and gold (perhaps for the wrong reasons) is having his helmet used as a weapon by Myles Garrett. What Rudolph allegedly said to start that altercation is up for debate to this day, but the Steelers don’t plan on waiting around to find out.

Rudolph won’t close the door on another run in Pittsburgh, in part because he can’t. The Steelers already locked the door.

Pittsburgh Steelers return for Mason Rudolph is unlikely

Look, that’s cute. Really, it’s great.

But the Steelers have their starting quarterback in Kenny Pickett, and their backup role is currently filled by Mitch Trubisky. If Pittsburgh were to move on from Trubisky, it’s hard to imagine they’d do so for Rudolph, who openly complained about his status on the team last year.

Yeah, that’s the same guy.

After the trade deadline, Rudolph made it clear that he’s willing and ready to compete and make the team better. It felt like more of a PR play.

“I’m a competitor,” Rudolph told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Anyone who wants to compete wants to be the guy on the field, but those are things I can’t control. I’m going to have a good positive mindset, do what I can to help us win.”

Rudolph deserves to play elsewhere — perhaps somewhere he can better learn his value and get a chance as a starter. But any real contender ought to know better.