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The Steelers will rest on Sunday for some important entrees, but the beginners who will play with the backup do not view the game against the Browns as a senseless altercation.
James Conner, who will play in the final game of his rookie contract, is looking forward to the challenge – and to play alongside Mason Rudolph (quarterback).
“Just play a full game and be our best self,” Conner said via Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. That’s what we’re preaching. We have standards. It does not matter who the QB is there. I know Mason is going to give us energy right now. I know he’s incited to play. We are encouraged to play with him as well. Line does what they do, backs, ball placement, running, receivers have to play. That’s actually all it comes down to, making play. ”
Rudolph, who played a lot in 2019 after Ben Roethlisberger finished a season in Week Two, prepared himself to get on the field every week.
“He comes to practice with the same mindset every day,” Conner said. “We measure our improvement in the working week and how we perform on the game day. His approach to practice since I saw him, he prepares as if it were the starter. This is just how he works. Making plays. When we practice, we see guys play. This is the time when we improve ourselves. I have seen how consistent he is with his approach to the job. ”
The Steelers relied too much on the passing game for most of the season. With Roethlisberger out week 17, the running game becomes even more important than it was.
“We definitely need the running game,” Conner said. “It’s adversity, things we’re dealing with. It’s not a lack of effort, it’s none of that. Soccer is a humble game. We are not going to keep trying to find answers and this and that. We’re going to keep playing our football. This is what we’re going to do this week. It’s always about the next opportunity. This is the journey you have up and down. I am familiar with adversity. I like that. I look forward to the next challenges and to getting the running game going and winning more importantly. ”
A win in Pittsburgh, along with a Buffalo loss, gives the Steelers the No. 2 series in the AFC, which will guarantee at least two home playoffs.
If they can win in the wild card round. Which is a bigger “if” than it seemed a few weeks ago.