Who Should I Start? Joe Flacco or Mason Rudolph

Wednesday, November 12, 2:17 PM

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (shoulder) will not throw at practice on Wednesday as the team takes a cautious approach with him while he manages an AC joint sprain. Flacco suffered the injury in the Bengals' Week 8 win over the New York Jets and didn't seem to be affected by it the next week against the Bears, completing 31 of 47 passes for a career high 470 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 40-year-old has thrived as Cincinnati's starting quarterback after the Bengals acquired him from the Browns ahead of their Week 6 matchup against the Packers. Flacco is the QB2 in PPR points per game since then, averaging 24.9 points per game. The Bengals' poor defense fuels high-scoring game environments, and he's been distributing the ball efficiently to his elite wide receiver duo in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. If Flacco is unable to go, Jake Browning would be in line to start. The Bengals also opened the 21-day practice window for starting quarterback Joe Burrow (toe) on Monday, and he's targeting a return on Thanksgiving night against the Ravens, which would give Flacco two more starts for Cincinnati.

Friday, August 22, 10:43 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph completed six of his eight pass attempts for 36 scoreless yards and an interception in Thursday night's 19-10 preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. Rudolph took the field for the team's first three offensive possessions and could not get much of anything going. The Steelers punted twice in the first quarter before Rudolph opened the second period with an ill-advised throw to Ke'Shawn Williams that Carolina picked off. Rudolph's brief showing was quickly outshined by teammate Skylar Thompson, who led Pittsburgh on three straight scoring drives. Nonetheless, the 30-year-old Rudolph should be expected to maintain QB2 duties heading into the regular season as the most experienced backup on the roster, especially if rookie Will Howard (finger) is placed on IR.