Steelers' Roethlisberger Out, Mason Rudolph In: Reaction

PITTSBURGH, PA - It's a seismic moment in Steelers history. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has led the team's offense for the past 15 years, is out for the season with an elbow injury. The Steelers are 0-2 and plan to play the rest of the season with second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph at quarterback.

Even before his elbow surgery, speculation is beginning that Roethlisberger, 37, perhaps has played his last game in the NFL. Here's what football writers across the country are saying about the Steelers' current situation.

• Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News: "What becomes of Roethlisberger's future won't be known until the recovery period for his surgery is revealed. But what is certain is if the Steelers hadn't trusted their own judgment about how to build and run a football team, they'd be looking at an empty autumn. At least this way, they can discover whether Mason Rudolph is a third-round steal or someone whose place in the NFL is on a sideline."

• Will Brinson, CBS Sports: "According to SportsLine's projections, the Steelers are basically toast this season with Ben's injury. They were projected, following an 0-2 start, to finish with 7.9 wins on the season. Ben to Rudolph, per these projections, costs the Steelers a little over a full win on the season as they're now projected to finish with 6.6 wins on the season. Their chances of winning the division, per SportsLine, drop from 13.5 percent after the 0-2 start to 4.7 percent. "

• Mark Cannizzaro, New York Post: "While the Steelers next play the 49ers Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif. and will move on without their incumbent starter, it’s fair to wonder whether Roethlisberger has played his final NFL game. He’s spoken openly about retirement after each of the past two seasons."

• Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated: "One has to wonder how the last few years have truly aged Roethlisberger..this is a player who has talked about long-term health and retirement. This is a player who had a brief window into life without most of his best skill position players. This is a player who isgoing to enter next season at 38, in a division that may be unrecognizable by the time 2020 kicks off. Should Mason Rudolph not be able to rally this roster, Pittsburgh will have missed the playoffs twice in a row. How different might the team look 365 days from now?"

• Mike Jones, USA Today: "Ready or not, Rudolph now must play. Although he showed some promising signs on Sunday, it’s unfair for the Steelers to expect Rudolph to carry them in the same manner that Roethlisberger would have. Pittsburgh now must get back to utilizing an offense that features a greater run-pass balance. But the problem with that is top running back James Conner is dealing with a knee injury, and his status remains unclear.

• Jason Gay, The Wall Street Journal: "If you are a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, this is a bleak, soul-challenging moment. I don’t blame you if you’re currently wandering around in thewoods, staring up at the trees, listening to the melancholy whistle ofthe September wind, and wondering what’s the point of watching football anymore."

Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) walks off the field as time runs out in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. Roethlisberger's season is over. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback will undergo surgery on his right elbow and be placed on injured reserve, ending the 37-year-old's 16th season just two weeks in. Roethlisberger injured the arm late in the second quarter of Sunday's 28-26 loss to Seattle.