The Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to go in a new direction at the quarterback position as they look to close out a strange 2019 season on a high note and compete for the playoffs.
After Mason Rudolph took over in Week 2 as the team’s starting quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger’s season-ending injury, he has been the lead signal-caller for the 6-5 Steelers.
However, after being benched in favor of undrafted rookie Devlin Hodges halfway through the team’s scrappy win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, coach Mike Tomlin has decided that Hodges will take over as starting quarterback.
The team announced on Tuesday that Hodges, nicknamed “Duck,” will start in the team’s rematch against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Hodges will start his second game of the season this weekend after he led the Steelers to a 24-17 win over the Chargers in Week 6, the only previous start of his professional career.
The 23-year-old Alabama native has completed 27 of 40 passes on the year for 318 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
He will be tasked with leading Pittsburgh, who currently finds themselves clinging onto the AFC’s final Wild Card slot, to what would be a huge win against the team’s eternal rival this weekend, which would be huge for their playoff hopes.
