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2020 Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Preview: Quarterbacks

July 25, 2020 / 3:13 PM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Following a 2019 season where the Steelers were forced to use three different quarterbacks, 17th-year veteran Ben Roethlisberger returns from his Week 2 right elbow injury healthy and ready to start in 2020.

Currently, five spots on the 90-man roster are occupied by quarterbacks:

J.T. Barrett, 1st Season
Devlin Hodges, 2nd Season
Mason Rudolph, 3rd Season
Paxton Lynch, 4th Season
Ben Roethlisberger, 17th Season

Projected 'Starter on Sundays': Ben Roethlisberger

JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up under center during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 18, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

The 38-year old has thrown 363 touchdowns and over 56,000 yards during his career and he isn't finished yet. A healthy and confident Roethlisberger will lead the Steelers offense which provides Ben with both familiar (JuJu Smith-Shuster) and new (Chase Claypool) targets.

Reserves: Mason Rudolph, Devlin Hodges

Mason Rudolph (Photo Credit: Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Rudolph and Hodges split time as the quarterback in 2019 following the loss of Roethlisberger. By mid-season, it was Hodges stealing the spotlight from fans after Rudolph went down with an injury. Rudolph returned and attempted to steer the Black and Gold to the playoffs, but eventually fell short.

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Devlin Hodges #6 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up ahead of his first career NFL start against the Los Angeles Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park on October 13, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

From a statistical perspective here's how the two stacked up:

Rudolph: 176/283, 1,7675 yards, 13 TD, 9 INT
Hodges: 100/160, 1,063 yards, 5 TD, 8 INT

Coach Mike Tomlin will likely keep both Rudolph and Hodges around, but the No. 1 back-up spot could be something to stay tuned into as training camp progresses.

Battling for a Spot: J.T. Barrett and Paxton Lynch

NEW ORLEANS, LA - AUGUST 30: J.T. Barrett #5 of the New Orleans Saints against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Barrett, undrafted out of Ohio State in 2018, hasn't had the start he expected since entering the NFL. He's spent time with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks before landing in Pittsburgh in December 2019.

Lynch, a fourth-year player from Memphis, joined the Steelers in 2019 after playing in five games from 2016-2017 for the Denver Broncos. Following Rudolph's injury in 2019, Lynch joined the active squad as a back-up.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: Paxton Lynch #2 of the Seattle Seahawks throws the ball during the second half of the preseason game against the Denver Broncos at CenturyLink Field on August 08, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

With two healthy quarterbacks in Roethlisberger and Rudolph, and a young Duck Hodges now with NFL experience, the 53-man roster will probably force Barrett and Lynch to the outside looking in come September.

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