At Steelers practice yesterday, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky split the first-team snaps at quarterback again with Kenny Pickett remaining in concussion protocol. Myles Jack, Pat Freiermuth, and Larry Ogunjobi remained out but Cam Sutton and Najee Harris returned. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson was added to the injury report with a hip ailment and backup defensive back Josh Jackson was out with an ankle injury.
Defensive lineman Cam Heyward and his teammates have been repeatedly asked this week about coach Mike Tomlin’s record of never having had a losing season. At 5-8, the Steelers are running out of chances to preserve that legacy but Heyward says they are not thinking about that.
Diontae Johnson liked what he saw from Mason Rudolph leading the first-team offense, and said he believes Rudolph deserves a chance to play against the Panthers on Sunday in Charlotte.
NFL
The San Francisco 49ers clinched the NFC West last night with a 21-13 win over Seattle. The Niners have won seven straight to improve to 10-and-4 on the season.
Week 15 of the NFL season continues with a Saturday triple-header. The Colts visit the Vikings in the opener, the Ravens battle the Browns in Cleveland (with Baltimore starting Tyler Huntley at quarterback for Baltimore in place of Lamar Jackson), followed by the Dolphins at the Bills in Buffalo.
