(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Ben Roethlisberger is still on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and his status for Sunday night's game against the Chargers is uncertain as of right now. If Roethlisberger is out for the second straight game, Mason Rudolph will get the start again.
The Steelers are preparing as if Rudolph will be the starter, and Roethlisberger has been communicating with the team via Zoom just like last year when he was in the COVID-19 protocol as a close contact leading up to the Week 10 game against the Bengals.
However, for some reason, Roethlisberger has been communicating with just quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan and offensive coordinator Matt Canada on Zoom about the game plan. Rudolph hasn't been a part of the meetings and the information is relayed to him.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but why isn't Rudolph a part of those meetings? He could be the starter on Sunday night. It just doesn't make any sense. Do Roethlisberger and Rudolph not have a close relationship? I mean, they don't have to be best friends outside of football, but I think it's important for Rudolph to be a part of the game plan discussions with Sullivan and Roethlisberger.
Rudolph said after Sunday's tie to the winless Lions that he didn't communicate with Roethlisberger prior to the game. Roethlisberger wasn't feeling well due to COVID-19 on Saturday, so that's understandable. But you think Roethlisberger would have at least texted Rudolph this week. I would assume that Rudolph would reveal that to the media that they've been at least texting. But that doesn't seem to be the case. James Washington and Pat Freiermuth haven't communicated with Roethlisberger either via Zoom, but they both said they've communicated with him.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it just seems odd to not have the backup quarterback a part of game plan discussions when Roethlisberger's status for Sunday night's game is uncertain.