Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens with a left shoulder injury, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
With Rudolph sidelined, the Steelers will stick with Devlin Hodges as starter as they try to make the playoffs.
Paxton Lynch will be Hodges’ backup.
The Steelers benched Hodges on Sunday against the New York Jets after he threw two interceptions in the first half and put Rudolph into the game. Rudolph threw a touchdown pass near the end of the first half to tie the game but was injured on a hit in the second half, forcing Hodges back into the game, which the Steelers lost, 16-10.
The loss took the Steelers’ playoff hopes out of their control and put the Tennessee Titans into the final AFC playoff spot heading into Week 17. Tennessee will clinch the final spot if it defeats the Houston Texans.
For the Steelers to make the playoffs they must win at Baltimore and need the Titans to lose at Houston. The Steelers can also make it with a loss but would need help from several teams in those scenarios.
After winning his first three starts, Hodges has struggled in his past two starts, throwing six interceptions in the two losses. The undrafted rookie has completed 67.4% of his passes this season but has thrown eight interceptions and just five touchdown passes in his five starts.
Rudolph, in his second season, has completed 62.2% of his passes in 10 games this season, for 1,765 yards with 13 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.