Despite being heavily linked with a move for Aaron Rodgers, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been getting by without the star quarterback. It’s been over two months since the NFL’s legal tampering period kicked off, and Rodgers remains on the free agent market, even after being hosted by Pittsburgh in March. No deal was struck at that time, although Rodgers appeared keen to sign with the team.

In the meantime, Mason Rudolph, who signed with the Steelers following a year with the Tennessee Titans, has impressed during first-team practice sessions. His team-mate, wide receiver Roman Wilson, said: “I think he’s an elite quarterback. Really locked in, bought in. Everybody likes him a lot. He’s a good dude. I love him, he’s a great guy.”

Tight end Pat Freiermuth also chimed in with praise, stating: “I love Mason. He’s a hell of a guy, hell of a teammate, great locker room guy.”

Freiermuth has a history with Rudolph, having been on the receiving end of his throws during the latter part of the 2023 season. In those four games, Rudolph completed an impressive 55 out of 74 passes for 719 yards, scoring three touchdowns without a single interception, helping to steer the Steelers into the playoffs.

Reflecting on their past success, Freiermuth said: “Two years ago we needed to win three games in a row to make it to the playoffs, and he stood in the pocket and delivered for us. So we got all the faith in him and it’s exciting to get back here with him.

“He’s always been consistent of who he is. Obviously he has a hell of an opportunity right now, and so we’re all excited for him. He’s going to come to work every single day and work hard, so it has been great to see him work again.”

Despite the chatter about Rodgers potentially overshadowing the Steelers’ quarterback situation, Rudolph remains unfazed by speculation, stating: “That’s nothing new to me. There’s been constant noise – that is the nature of the NFL, so I have been used to that for a long time now. I do nothing but be the best I can be and help our team get better this spring.”

Rudolph’s previous season with the Tennessee Titans saw him rack up 1,530 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions over eight games. His performance evidently impressed the Steelers, leading them to secure his talents with a two-year contract worth $7.5 million this offseason.

This story first appeared on the Mirror US