Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that Ben Roethlisberger will not play this weekend against the Browns, with Mason Rudolph starting in Cleveland.
Tomlin recognized the Steelers (12-3), who have already secured a place in the playoffs and the AFC North title, can rest the starters more on Sunday, but for now, Roethlisberger is the only nominee.
“It doesn’t change our intentions in terms of going to Cleveland this weekend,” said Tomlin. “Football is our game. Our job is to win. We intend to do our job. We intend to prepare ourselves with that mentality. And, ultimately, take us to that destination. We are not looking for comfort. We are not qualifying in a curve. .
“This game is scheduled and, therefore, the guys who will be on the field will represent us in the standard that is the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
Tomlin emphasized that while some other players may rest before the playoffs, Sunday’s meeting with the Browns will not have a team made up entirely of reserves, in part because of ill health. Instead, he said, they will likely work on a rotation that limits the snapshot count of some beginners, while giving healthy backups opportunities to play.
“This is not a pre-season game where we are playing backups, where we have players from 54 to 75 to evaluate and things like that,” he said. “We have an NFL football team. This NFL football team is going to play, without Ben and maybe another guy or two. I don’t want to do more with that than what is from this perspective.”
Rudolph’s start comes a year after a fight that marked the end of the teams’ game in Cleveland. Browns star Myles Garrett was suspended for pulling and swinging Rudolph’s helmet, hitting the quarterback in the head with him, with seconds to go.
As Garrett was suspended and Rudolph was cast in the rematch last year, Sunday will be the first time the two have faced each other since the incident.
“I didn’t get a chance to talk to him about it,” said Tomlin of Rudolph’s return to Cleveland. “But I’m sure he is excited about the opportunity to start, for sure.”
Cleveland (10-5) could reach the playoffs with a victory on Sunday, but Tomlin said his team is not necessarily motivated by the prospect of keeping the Browns in the postseason.
“Motivation and intentions and all that stuff, this is good food for drinkers and I understand,” said Tomlin. “This is a scheduled game. Our business is winning. Let’s get ready with that mindset. It won’t change in terms of how we approach it. … I know what our mindset will be. I know what our intentions will be. Let’s go play soccer. “