Mason Rudolph to get shot against Browns while Steelers rest Ben Roethlisberger

About an hour in the past

Mason Rudolph will return to the positioning of HelmetGate on Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers go to Cleveland.

His flip at quarterback isn’t primarily based on an opportunity for redemption after he was clubbed on the top along with his helmet courtesy of Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett the final time the Steelers ventured to northeast Ohio.

It additionally isn’t being achieved so the Steelers can consider their backup quarterback’s play earlier than the 2021 offseason.

Rudolph is getting one other crack on the Cleveland protection to ensure that starter Ben Roethlisberger to relaxation for the playoffs, which start for the Steelers — and maybe the Browns — on the weekend of Jan. 9-10.

Roethlisberger leads the NFL in makes an attempt at age 38 and, given the Steelers haven’t loved important break day since Week 4, coach Mike Tomlin has determined to sit down his franchise quarterback with the AFC North title secured for the 12-3 Steelers.

Tomlin got here to that call after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs wrapped up the No. 1 seed and the one first-round bye within the AFC.

“Given a chance to airmail a participant or two to the postseason, we’ll,” Tomlin mentioned Tuesday at his weekly information convention.

Roethlisberger was the one participant Tomlin dominated out from enjoying within the season finale at FirstEnergy Stadium in opposition to the 10-5 Browns, who can clinch their first playoff berth since 2002 with a victory.

“We’ll look doubtlessly at resting another guys when it comes to making them inactive,” Tomlin mentioned. “However the variety of these guys and who these guys are will likely be decided as we push by the week. Participant availability dictates that.”

The sport marks the Steelers’ first journey to Cleveland since Nov. 14, 2019, when Garrett ripped the helmet from Rudolph’s head late within the Browns’ 21-7 victory and swung it on the quarterback. Garrett made contact, sparking a brawl on the sphere that led to a few suspensions and numerous fines. Garrett was suspended indefinitely and missed the rest of the common season.

Garrett later mentioned he was incited by Rudolph utilizing a racial slur, a declare the Steelers quarterback and Tomlin vehemently denied.

Tomlin mentioned he hadn’t but talked to Rudolph about beginning in opposition to the Browns once more. Rudolph was 5-3 as a starter final season, however he was benched in favor of “Duck” Hodges for the rematch at Heinz Discipline.

“I’m positive he’s enthusiastic about getting the chance to begin, definitely,” Tomlin mentioned.

Roethlisberger will sit down every week after main the Steelers to a second-half comeback from a 17-point deficit in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, the 28-24 victory snapping a three-game shedding streak.

After a second consecutive poor exhibiting within the first half, Roethlisberger snapped the offense out of its funk with landing passes to Diontae Johnson, Eric Ebron and JuJu Smith-Schuster. It was the primary time in 5 video games the Steelers topped 20 factors.

The Steelers might transfer into the No. 2 seed with a win Sunday and a Buffalo loss in opposition to Miami, which is amongst 5 groups competing for 4 playoff berths within the AFC. Even when the Steelers relaxation starters in opposition to the Browns, Tomlin mentioned it shouldn’t be taken as an indication his workforce isn’t attempting to enhance its standing within the AFC playoff race.

“I don’t need to make this appear to be a preseason sport,” Tomlin mentioned. “Ben is the one man I’m prepared to acknowledge gained’t play on this sport.”

Tomlin mentioned the possibility to knock a divisional opponent from the playoff image gained’t function a motivation for the Steelers.

“That’s good water cooler fodder, and I get it,” he mentioned. “However this can be a scheduled sport. Our enterprise is to win, so we’re going to organize with that mindset.”

It’s possible the Steelers might face the Browns once more every week later within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs. That risk gained’t issue into Tomlin’s gameplan Sunday.

“We’re singularly centered with this chance that we face this week and the variables related to it,” Tomlin mentioned. “We’ll fear concerning the playoffs after we get there.”

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Overview workers author. You possibly can contact Joe by electronic mail at jrutter@triblive.com or through Twitter .