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Mike Tomlin Explains Why Steelers Chose Mitch Trubisky

Mike Tomlin said Mitch Trubisky is in a better spot to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers than Mason Rudolph.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have two options to replace the injured Kenny Pickett on their roster currently but head coach Mike Tomlin was clear in the wake of a loss to the Arizona Cardinals that his team would roll with Mitch Trubisky over Mason Rudolph this week against the New England Patriots. 

There's a simple reason why the Steelers like Trubisky over Rudolph - as the second-stringer, Trubisky is simply better prepared to work with the first-team offense because of how the team divides up snaps in practice. 

“You can’t give work to three guys, to be quite honest with you," Tomlin said. "Most of Mason Rudolph’s work comes on scout team offense and so Mitch has been in position to get the most work.”

Tomlin went on to explain that Trubisky has gravity as a leader and experience as the centerpiece that makes him an ideal candidate to be the Steelers backup and earn those elevated reps in practice. He and the rest of the team feel comfortable with Trubiksy leading their offense. 

“He has an outgoing and welcoming personality, he’s a good communicator, he’s been a franchise quarterback before so he’s comfortable in those shoes," Tomlin said. "He doesn’t behave like a backup that’s being elevated and I think those are the things that make him attractive.”

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