LATROBE, Pa. -- So much for that training camp battle to be Ben Roethlisberger's backup, eh?
Coming off a 4-for-4, 83-yard, one-TD performance last week, Landry Jones will be given Thursday night off when the Steelers face the Packers at Lambeau Field for their second preseason game. The sixth-year veteran has enjoyed a strong training camp and appears to have solidified his spot as the No. 2.
That leaves the third, and presumably final, QB roster spot to either Josh Dobbs or Mason Rudolph.
Mike Tomlin confirmed that Dobbs and Rudolph will split all the snaps against the Packers. During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Tomlin said that he would be adding a little more game-planning against the Packers and was eager to see how the young QBs respond.
"We have got four NFL-capable quarterbacks," Tomlin said. "Some teams keep two. Some teams keep three. Very rarely do teams keep four. Those are the variables. We'll see where the road leads more than anything.
"I'm just trying to create an environment where these guys have an opportunity to show what they're capable of and get better. So far, so good. I like the approach of the group. I'm not overthinking it and I don't want any of those guys to overthink it. We'll see where the road ends."
Rudolph, the Steelers' third-round pick (76th overall) this spring, is the prohibitive favorite to win the spot over Dobbs, a 2017 fourth-rounder. Rudolph is viewed as a potential successor to the 36-year-old Roethlisberger.
In last week's win at Philadelphia, Dobbs completed 9-of-13 passes for 91 yards with a touchdown and interception. Rudolph threw for 101 yards on 7-of-12 passing. Tomlin said he hasn't decided on the order in which each will be used.
• In addition to Jones and Roethlisberger, Tomlin said that Antonio Brown, Cam Heyward and select veterans won't play at Green Bay.
• Vance McDonald and Ramon Foster have been ruled out, but Tomlin said that players dealing with minor injuries still could play.
• Aaron Rodgers is expected to make his preseason debut Thursday, but Tomlin said that what Green Bay does will have no effect on his decision to play his first team defense.
• Tomlin said he wasn't overly concerned with the lack of practice time outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree and safeties Sean Davis and Morgan Burnett have had together due to injury. Dupree has cleared concussion protocol and will play against the Packers.