For a team that long embraced having veteran experience behind its franchise quarterback, the Steelers opted for youthful inexperience this time.
They cut Landry Jones, who was entering his sixth season, and kept two quarterbacks who have not taken a snap in a real NFL game, rookie Mason Rudolph and second-year man Joshua Dobbs.
The bold move harkens to a similar one made by another Steelers Super Bowl contender 42 years ago when Chuck Noll decided to go with rookie Mike Kruczek as the lone backup to Terry Bradshaw with the two-time defending Super Bowl champs in 1976.
Rudolph, a third-round draft pick this year, and Dobbs, a fourth-rounder in 2017, each played well in the fourth preseason game Thursday night against Carolina, capping off good summers by both young quarterbacks. Jones did not play.
There was a report the Steelers were offering Dobbs around the league in a trade. As it turns out, they obviously could not get anything for Jones via trade.
Before Jones ascended to the No. 2 role in the 2015 season, the Steelers under coach Mike Tomlin relied on veterans. Indeed, even in 2015, they signed Mike Vick to back up Ben Roethlisberger and he did so until he was injured and Jones took over.
Before that, they had Bruce Gradkowski, Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch, who joined them as a backup in 2003 and played through 2012.
Jones played in two preseason games and played well, completing 10 of 13 passes for 127 yards, one touchdown, an interception and a 100.5 passer rating.
Dobbs had a 111.97 preseason passer rating, completing 29 of 43 for 434 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He had another 71 yards rushing on 10 attempts, including a touchdown run Thursday. He is by far the most mobile of the four quarterbacks and seemed much improved with his play since his rookie preseason.
“I think it’s night and day from this season to last season,” Dobbs said Thursday after the game, “just total command and the understanding of the offense and able to make plays on the field.”
The question left hanging at quarterback: Who will be No. 2 and who will be No. 3?
Jones likely won’t stay unemployed long. There are a bunch of NFL teams looking for quality backups and he would fit that bill. The Steelers record with him as a starter was 3-2 after he played only briefly in one game and threw no passes in his first two seasons.
He completed 63.9 percent of his passes over the past three regular seasons with eight touchdowns, seven interceptions and an 86.2 passer rating. His rating was 99.3 last season in three games and one start, the finale against Cleveland.
Cutting Jones was the only big surprise Saturday as the Steelers reduced their roster to 53 players.
Among some notable cuts were cornerback Brian Allen, halfback Fitz Toussaint, linebacker Keion Adams and two receivers waved injured: Marcus Tucker and Damoun Patterson. Receiver Elli Rogers was placed on the reserve/PUP list.
The Steelers also will have to release another player when they add Le’Veon Bell to the roster. They can apply for a two-week roster exemption for him if and when he reports and signs his one-year, $14.55 million franchise tag.
Bell reported on Labor Day a year ago and while the Steelers did get a roster exemption for him then, they removed it and he started in their opener at Cleveland, where they again open the 2018 season Sept. 9.
As of now, they have three halfbacks on the roster — James Conner, veteran Stevan Ridley and rookie Jaylen Samuels, a fifth-round draft pick.
Six of their seven draft picks made the roster: Rudolph, Samuels, Terrell Edmunds, James Washington, Chuks Okorafor and Marcus Allen. Only seventh-rounder Joshua Frazier was cut.
Two other undrafted rookies also made it, linebackers Matthew Thomas and Ola Adeniyi.
Once players clear waivers by noon Sunday, teams can begin signing up to 10 on their practice squad. The Steelers also have an exemption for an 11th practice squad player if they so choose in tight end Christian Scotland-Williamson, a 25-year-old former rugby player.
The Steelers have Sunday off and will resume practice Monday.
The rest of the cuts:
Safety Nat Berhe; punter Matt Wile; halfbacks Jarvion Franklin and James Summers; receivers Trey Griffey, Quadree Henderson and Tevin Jones; tight ends Bucky Hodges, Pharoah McKever and Christian Scotland-Williamson; offensive linemen Larson Graham, Patrick Morris, Oni Omoile, R.J. Prince, Jake Rodgers and Chris Schleuger; cornerbacks Dashaun Phillips, Malik Reaves and Jamar Summers; linebackers Matt Galambos and Farrington Huguerin, and defensive linemen Parker Cothren, Joshua Frazier, Greg Gilmore, Levon Hooks, Casey Sayles and Kendal Vickers.
Others waived injured were offensive lineman Joseph Cheek, safety Malik Golden and linebacker Keith Kelsey.
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com and Twitter @EdBouchette.
First Published: September 1, 2018, 8:29 p.m.