The second-year Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has been replacing Ben Roethlisberger after the elbow injury that ended this season, was sent to the Bengals in week 12.
That left rookie third stringer Devlin Hodges, who played earlier this season instead of an injured Rudolph, as the Pittsburgh quarterback. Hodges led the team to victory over the Chargers in their only outing, completing 15 of 20 passes for 132 yards, a touchdown and an interception for a 87.9 rating.
Don't you know about the next Steelers man in the most important position? Here are some quick facts about Hodges.
Devlin Hodges was signed as a free agent not recruited.
The Steelers added the product of Samford University two weeks after the 2019 NFL Draft. He was exonerated during the final cuts on August 31, but re-signed with the practice squad during week 1.
He was promoted to the active list when Roethlisberger landed on IR on September 16.
Devlin Hodges was a four-year college star.
Hodges caught the attention of the NFL for his superstar career at Alabama FCS. He won the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy division, the Walter Payton Prize, for his brilliant game in 2018.
During his last college season, Hodges recorded 4,283 yards and 32 touchdown passes. For four years, he also broke the record for the late Steve McNair at Alcorn State with 14,584 aerial yards at Samford.
Hodges completed more than 69 percent of his passes and was three times the offensive player of the South Conference year.
While in Samford, he earned the nickname "Duck,quot; for his love of duck hunting and his successful past as a young caller of ducks.
Devlin Hodges High School produced another NFL backup QB.
Hodges went to Mortimer Jordan High School (Kimberly, Ala). One of the school's proud soccer students is Peter Tom Willis, the former Florida state quarterback who was selected by the Bears in the third round in 2000.
Willis served as No. 2 for a short period behind current Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh while in Chicago.
Devlin Hodges is Samford's first QB in the NFL.
The Bulldogs have a good representation in the NFL currently with Panthers cornerback James Bradberry and 49ers deep Jaquiski Tartt. His best player in the league was the seventh round selection of 2006, Cortland Finnegan, an All-Pro of the first team in the corner.
Devlin Hodges is the eighth QB of the NFL who was born in Alabama.
Hodges is the 201st overall player from Yellowhammer to play in the NFL. It is the third Alabaman that starts for a team in 2019, joining the Buccaneers & # 39; Jameis Winston (Bessemer) and the Chargers & # 39; Phiiip Rivers (Decatur).
The Crimson Tide has produced three of the others: AJ McCarron, John Parker Wilson and Brodie Croyle. The list is completed by Tarvaris Jackson (Montgomery) and JaMarcus Russell (Mobile), the No. 1 general pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Devlin Hodges is the second Steelers that starts QB to use No. 6.
The last Steeler to use that number was bettor Matt Wile in the 2018 preseason, and more recently, it belonged to kicker Shaun Suisham.
But the most prominent Pittsburgh player in using No. 6 was Bubby Brister, who started mainly between 1988 and & # 39; 90, before the team turned more to Neil O & # 39; Donnell. Brister was 28-29 as the Steelers quarterback.
Devlin Hodges compensates for its limited size with good precision and a quick launch.
Roethlisberger and Rudolph are more classic quarterbacks of height (6-5) and weight (235/240 pounds). Hodges stands at 6-1, 210 pounds. He is a good athlete who uses his feet well to push the ball down the field. He rushed for 1,017 yards for four years as Bulldog.
The Steelers will expect Hodges to live up to the task of distributing the ball across the field in what appears to be a very tough offense.
