Mason Rudolph isn’t the only member of the Pittsburgh Steelers whose role could change as they try to snap a three-game losing streak Saturday when they play the Cincinnati Bengals.
It’s just that Rudolph’s ascent to starting quarterback is the only one that coach Mike Tomlin would share at his weekly press conference Monday.
“There will be (more), but those discussions are ongoing,” Tomlin said. “We’re very much in the developmental stages of our plan, and that includes division of labor. Some of those discussions are ongoing.”
Could one of those changes involve wide receiver George Pickens? With three minutes left in the first quarter, Pickens didn’t finish his block on a Jaylen Warren 6-yard run to the Indianapolis 1. Pickens stood and watched the play unfold. In the second quarter, Pickens mistimed his jump on a deep pass and was out-leaped by 6-foot cornerback Nick Cross, who got the interception.
Tomlin told the team website that he had a “great meeting” last week with Pickens to discuss the wide receiver’s frustrations in the offense.
“I thought he was better, but he still has room for continued improvement,” Tomlin said.
When the lack of effort by Pickens on the Warren run was mentioned to Tomlin, he responded, “That’s one example in terms of still obvious room for improvement.”
Asked how he can get Pickens’ attention, Tomlin said, “We keep working.”
Tomlin promised changes in the aftermath of the Steelers’ 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. At 7-7, the Steelers are in last place in the AFC North and sit outside the playoff picture.
“One week you’re drinking wine, the next week you’re squashing grapes,” Tomlin said. “We’ve been squashing a lot of grapes of late. I’m interested in a little wine.”
Decisions, decisions
Tomlin explained his rationale behind not sending Chris Boswell in to kick a 57-yard field goal with the Steelers trailing by 11 points late in the third quarter. He said he was trying to “protect” his defense from defending a short field in the event Boswell missed the kick.
Tomlin said Boswell, who earlier had missed an extra point, was not dealing with an injury.
A miss would have given the Colts the ball at the 47. Instead, Pressley Harvin followed with a 22-yard punt.
“If you’re trying to put people on the long field, we’re talking about 95-plus yards is what we’re looking for under ideal circumstances,” Tomlin said. “I think they ended up with the ball roughly around the 17. That’s not what we were looking for.”
Injury update
Minkah Fitzpatrick will miss the game with an ankle injury, further weakening a secondary already without safety Keanu Neal, who is on injured reserve with a rib injury, and dealing with the suspension to Damontae Kazee. Safety Trenton Thompson is recovering from a stinger.
Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward remains in the concussion protocol.
Myles Jack, an in-season addition to the practice squad, is a candidate to be elevated as the Steelers deal with attrition at inside linebacker.
