LATROBE, Pa. -- Mason Rudolph has waited for Thursday likely as long as he can remember. But he'll also have to remind himself that it's just a preseason game, one that doesn't count in his career statistics or even in the season record for the Steelers this season.
That won't make things any less special for a player who is about to have a debut that is probably as highly anticipated for any Steelers player since Ben Roethlisberger put on his uniform for the first time in 2004.
The only difference is that while Roethlisberger was the 11th-overall pick in 2004, Rudolph was a third-round selection this year and the sixth quarterback taken in a draft that has fans hopeful they got their star of the future in five other NFL cities.
Rudolph's pedigree isn't nearly as high as that of Roethlisberger. But it won't make his preseason debut any less special.
"Obviously, you dream about playing in the NFL," Rudolph said as the Steelers prepare to head to Philadelphia Thursday for their preseason opener.
"But once you get here, you take it one day at a time. That's the way I've approached practice. ... Obviously, we're excited. A lot of us will be playing in our first NFL game."
Rudolph can hope it goes better than his debut at Oklahoma State, where he was pressed into action as a freshman in 2014. Rudolph threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, but also completed just 52 percent of his passes, was intercepted twice and sacked three times in a 49-28 loss to Baylor.
But, as he has done throughout the process since joining the Steelers, Rudolph learned from his mistakes and led the Cowboys to a win over Oklahoma in his second start. His third -- and final start of his freshman season -- was his best game, as he led Oklahoma State to a win over Washington in the Cactus Bowl, throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns.
Rudolph's short time with the Steelers has seen similar steps taken.
His first pass at training camp here at Saint Vincent College slipped out of his hand and went backward. And there have been the usual rookie growing pains along the way. But there also have been plenty of good moments, such as leading the team in a two-minute drill that he finished off with a TD pass to fellow rookie Jaylen Samuels.
Tuesday he got a chance to work in the seven-shots short-yardage package to start practice and threw a nice back-shoulder pass for a score to Tevin Jones.
He was asked about that inauspicious start with his first pass.
“If you want to call that my first pass. I think it was deflected, yeah,’’ Rudolph said. “I could care less about the first pass. I’m thinking about the next pass, here today.”
Mike Tomlin has told his quarterbacks how their reps will go but also told them not to divulge that information. Tomlin did say Roethlisberger will not play. And it's unlikely backup Landry Jones way see a lot of action, either, as the Steelers want to get a long look at Rudolph and Josh Dobbs, a fourth-round pick in 2017.
"Landry Jones has been the benefactor of having a ton of snaps the past several years. Now, he probably doesn’t need as many snaps," offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner told me. "He’s put himself in that position. That’s been a lot of hard work for him. He’s doing game work. We all need the in-helmet perspective, but what a great opportunity for two young guys to get a lot of work. We have a unique situation because Ben, at this point in his career, doesn’t need every rep."
And the young guys do. Tomlin expects some growing pains.
He also likes what he's seen thus far of Rudolph, but knows this is the next big step.
"Mason’s done a really good job, but again, he hasn’t been hit," Tomlin said. "There will be attempts to hit him on Thursday night, so stay tuned man because that’s another one of the reasons why this is weighted differently. An offense’s ability to maintain possession of the ball, or ball security, is much more difficult in-stadium than it is in a training camp environment because a training camp environment is controlled in a lot of ways — you don’t touch or get close to the quarterback, for instance. So, a quarterback’s ability to secure the football really doesn’t get tested until they play preseason football in-stadium. That’s why these opportunities are so precious because that is a big element of the evaluation process of the position."
Rudolph has already shown a great connection with fellow Oklahoma State product James Washington, the team's second-round draft pick. The two have a natural bond created from several years of working together.
The Steelers might want to work that combination some in the preseason, as well, since Washington is being counted on to help replace Martavis Bryant at wide receiver. And if they don't? I asked Rudolph if he would lobby to get Washington on the field at the same time he is out there.
"I will for sure," Rudolph said. "But that's out of my control. He's going to get a lot of reps. If they happen to be with me, we'll make them count. If not, we'll make some plays with the other guys we've been working with throughout camp."
That's the key. In all likelihood, Jones will start the game and play a series or two and then be replaced by Dobbs. That could mean Rudolph doesn't play until the second half -- possibly playing the entire second half.
But success won't be measured by wins and losses. It will be measured in less visible things such as getting the calls correct, getting players in and out of the huddle, and showing a command of the offense.
"I just want progress," Rudolph said. "You guys can analyze the steps. I want to make sure I take more steps every day."