PITTSBURGH — In the matter of a 24-hour window, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback race went from wide open to sealed shut. Mason Rudolph, the organization’s former third-round pick, was the presumptive QB1 for the past three months of the offseason as the Steelers waited for Aaron Rodgers’ decision. Rodgers made his decision, and now he’s the Steelers’ starting QB for the 2025 season, and Rudolph is relegated once again to the backup role.

Speaking for the first time since the Steelers’ big move, Rudolph opened up about the situation to Kevin Goman of the Pittsburgh Tribute-Review. Rudolph’s overarching sentiment was that this was expected and doesn’t change much about his outlook on the season. He told Gorman that he had a “feeling” the Steelers were going to bring somebody else in, citing the noise around Rodgers’ signing being at the top of everybody’s conversations.

But Rudolph maintained that Rodgers’ arrival won’t shift his approach to the season.

“It won’t change my approach,” he said. “I’ll keep doing what I’ve done my whole career. I’ve had plenty of adversity and found a way to battle through it. I stayed ready to play well when called upon.”

Rudolph’s mindset is key to why the Steelers brought him back to the organization. Ever since his NFL debut, he’s had to work hard and wait patiently for whatever opportunity he had. He waited behind Ben Roethlisberger and a slew of potential replacements before getting a shot with another team. Even when he joined the Tennessee Titans, getting the keys to the Titans’ offense took injuries and a few tough breaks. That is again the case for Rudolph, who will have to scratch and claw for any playing time in the coming season.

The Steelers have to be pleased with their quarterback group. With Rodgers at the helm, they have a backup in Rudolph who can outperform most of the backups around the NFL. They also have a valued rookie prospect in Will Howard. It all adds up to the Steelers having the most confidence in their QB position since their last postseason victory.

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Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman will no longer wear No. 8. Following the signing of Aaron Rodgers, Waitman is switching to No. 3, which was last worn by Russell Wilson last year.

Rodgers will wear the No. 8. That is the number he wore with theNew York Jets during his two seasons there. Rodgers first wore the number during his time at California in college.

Kenny Pickett was one of the quarterbacks who wore No. 8 with the Steelers before the team traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rodgers could not wear No. 12 because the Steelers had unofficially retired that number. With the Steelers, No. 12 was worn by quarterback Terry Bradshaw in the 1970s, and while not officially retired, the team has never handed out the number since Bradshaw retired. It is unlikely they ever will, and there are plenty of other numbers that the Steelers will never hand out again, like No. 43 with Troy Polamalu.

This was not a matter of Rodgers asking Bradshaw, though if he had, he would likely have been met with stiff resistance. Bradshaw was critical of the team’s pursuit of Rodgers last week.

“That’s a joke,” Bradshaw said on 103.7 The Buzz’s Morning Mayhem Show. “That is to me just a joke. What are you going to do? Bring him in for one year? Are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark. Whisper to the gods out there.”

Rodgers is now slated to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback, and his No. 8 jerseys are on sale in limited stock on the team’s store.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates erased three deficits and walked it off vs. the Philadelphia Phillies in the series opener at PNC Park, 5-4.

The Pirates get their first win against the Phillies, after suffering a sweep at Citizens Bank Park, May 16-18. They also improve to 24-40 on the season, 15-18 at home, while the Phillies fall to 37-26 overall and 18-14 on the road.

Pirates left-handed starting pitcher Bailey Falter, who had an historic month of May, struggled at the top of the first inning.

He allowed a leadoff single to shortstop Trea Turner, got designated hitter Kyle Schwarber to pop out, but walked first baseman Alec Bohm, who both moved up to third base and second base, respectively on a double steal.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead on a groundout from right fielder Nick Castellanos, but Falter got out of the inning with catcher J.T. Realmuto hitting a popping out.

Pittsburgh would respond in the bottom of the first inning, as second baseman Nick Gonzales hit a one out triple, his first of the season. Designated hitter Bryan Reynolds responded with a single right off of right-handed relief pitcher Joe Ross, tying it up at 1-1.

Pirates catcher Endy Rodríguez left the game after the first inning with right elbow discomfort, with Henry Davis coming in his place.

Pirates right fielder Adam Frazier hit a one out double in the bottom of the second and then third baseman Jared Triolo walked.

They missed out on an opportunity to take the lead, as Frazier got called out on the double steal and then shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded out.

Falter allowed a one out double to Turner in the top of the third inning. He got Schwarber to ground out, moving Turner to third base, but then allowed a single to Bohm, scoring Turner and giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead.

Reynolds came through for the Pirates again in the bottom of the third inning, crushing a first pitch sweeper in the top of the zone from left-handed relief pitcher Tanner Banks for a solo home run, tying it up at 2-2.

Falter loaded the bases to start the top of the fourth inning, by allowing a double to Realmuto, walking third baseman Edmundo Sosa and giving up a single to second baseman Bryson Stott.

He did get left fielder Weston Wilson out on a liner to Oneil Cruz in center field and then struckout center fielder Johan Rojas, but Pirates manager Don Kelly made a pitching change, bringing in right-handed pitcher Chase Shugart.

Shugart would allow a single to Turner past both Kiner-Falefa and Gonzales into center field, scoring Realmuto and Sosa, as the Phillies took a 4-2 lead.

Falter, who only allowed three runs in May, finished his night with four earned runs on five hits and two walks over 3.2 innings.

Pirates left fielder Alexander Canario ledoff the bottom of the fourth inning with a walk and then Davis would hit a cutter on the outside bottom corner from Phillies right-handed pitcher Alan Rangel out into the left field seats for a two-run home run, tying the game up at 4-4.

Both teams struggled to get much going over the next two innings, with just a double each from Castellanos and Davis.

Kiner-Falefa walked and Cruz singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Gonzales and Reynolds both lined out.

The Pirates got great efforts from their bullpen, as Shugart and left-hander Caleb Ferguson each pitched 1.1 innings and 1.2 innings scoreless. Right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana ended the seventh inning and threw a scoreless eighth innng, while fellow right-hander David Bednar struck out the side in the ninth inning.

Frazier opened the bottom of the ninth inning with a bloop single and then Triolo singled to center field. Kiner-Falefa laid down a great bunt, reaching safely after it just stayed fair to load the bases.

Cruz struckout, but Gonzales hit a sacrifice fly out to left field, scoring Frazier and winning the game for the Pirates.

This was Gonzales’ third walk-off and his second vs. the Phillies, doing so last season, July 19, 2024 in an 8-7 victory.

The Pirates will look to win the series vs. the Phillies in the second game on June 7. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

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