Steelers Now
If Aaron Rodgers pulls a Brett Favre and reports during the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch believes Mason Rudolph should be the Week 1 starter. That would certainly kill the Week 1 headlines of a Rodgers’ revenge game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
“I still believe that Mason Rudolph should be the starter as the season opens up,” Batch said on Up & Adams with Kay Adams. “Allow Aaron to work through the nuances of the offense. That’s just my personal opinion. But if he signs prior to training camp starting and allowing him a couple extra weeks to learn this offense, then Aaron Rodgers probably would be the starter.”
“I still believe that Mason Rudolph should be the starter as the season opens.”
If Aaron Rodgers reports late to training camp, Charlie Batch says giving Rudolph the Week 1 nod buys Rodgers time to fully learn the offense.@heykayadams | @CharlieBatch16 pic.twitter.com/W3RXIZ1yMC
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 4, 2025
Batch previously mentioned on Arthur Moats’ podcast that Rudolph has the upper hand, even if Rodgers ultimately signs with the Steelers.
“When you add an Aaron Rodgers, I think the longer it goes towards training camp, I think you have to give the edge to Mason Rudolph,” Batch said on the Arthur Moats Experience. “That means he knows the system a little better than what Aaron Rodgers would. We understand what his resume looks like, but again, this is not a system that Aaron has spent the majority of his career in. I just think the longer that this goes on, I think you’re kind of walking on thin ice as it relates to how soon are you going to put him in there.”
Pittsburgh has expressed its faith in Rudolph’s ability to be the team’s starter in 2025 if Rodgers decides to play elsewhere or retire.
“That’s why we brought him back. I’m comfortable with that,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’ve been there before. He’s a very capable guy.”
Rudolph has the resume to back up those beliefs, too. He was first thrust into the starting role when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2 of the 2019 season. He started eight games and completed 176 of 283 passes (62.2%) for 1,765 yards (6.2 yards per attempt), 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
He was then given the opportunity to start once again for final three games of the 2023 regular season after Kenny Pickett was lost to a high-ankle sprain and Mitchell Trubisky struggled in his limited action.
Rudolph responded with the best play of his career, completing 55 of 75 passes (74.3%) for 719 yards (10.5 yards per attempt) three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He led the Steelers to three straight victories and a playoff spot, before losing in the Wild Card round to the Buffalo Bills.
However, Rodgers would be able to pick up the playbook in short time, given...
