Pittsburgh Steelers QB Devlin Hodges returns after benching, Mason Rudolph injured

In an attempt to boost their playoff hopes, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned to Mason Rudolph — again.

The second-year quarterback entered Sunday’s 16-10 loss against the New York Jets in the second quarter after coach Mike Tomlin opted to bench rookie Devlin Hodges, who had thrown two interceptions.

Hodges was 7-of-9 for 53 yards with the interceptions at the time he was pulled, and Pittsburgh trailed the Jets 10-0.

Hodges' interceptions ended two of Pittsburgh’s three drives to start the game. Rudolph came in for the fourth Steelers series.

In Rudolph’s series, the Steelers gained just 15 yards and punted after six plays.

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Rudolph did play marginally well, completing 14 of 20 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown. He suffered a left shoulder injury, however, in the third quarter, when when several Jets defenders brought him down.

Hodges, then re-entered the game in the fourth quarter.

He finished t11 of 17 for 84 yards with the two interceptions. In each of Hodges final drives, he had the chance to help give Pittsburgh the lead. Instead, the possessions ended with two punts and a turnover on downs.

Including last week’s 17-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, when Hodges threw interceptions in Pittsburgh's final two possessions of the game, the rookie had thrown an interception in four of his last five drives as the Steelers' quarterback.

Rudolph had started eight games for Pittsburgh after veteran Ben Roethlisberger went down early in the year with a season-ending elbow injury. He had posted a 61.6 percent completion rate and a 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Rudolph was then benched in a Week 12 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a game Hodges helped win. Hodges then started the next three games, winning two of them.

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