Devlin

Hodges

Hodges appeared in one preseason game this year, throwing for 85 yards and an interception versus the Chargers. His competition for the backup gig in Los Angeles, Bryce Perkins, played the entirety of the Rams’ second preseason game. Perkins topped 200 yards through the air, scored twice, and added 41 yards on the ground. With Perkins showing a ceiling that Hodges simply couldn’t match, Hodges’ fate was sealed. He’ll look to sign with someone as a practice squad passer before the start of the season.

Wolford’s absence leaves Bryce Perkins and Devlin Hodges as the remaining backups for the Rams. With Stafford unlikely to get a ton of reps in the preseason, Perkins and Hodges will see plenty of action. Assuming he is able to return by the start of the regular season, Wolford is still an overwhelming favorite to win the backup gig in Los Angeles.

Known as “Duck,” Hodges appeared in eight games, starting six, for the Steelers in 2019, going 3-3 on the back of the Pittsburgh defense. Hodges completed 62.5% of his passes at 6.6 yards per attempt with a 5:8 TD:INT mark. He averaged 132.9 passing yards per game and absorbed 15 sacks. Hodges won’t be the one pushing Jared Goff in camp next summer. The Rams also signed DB Jake Gervase to a reserve/future deal.

Hodges lost his 53-man roster spot to Josh Dobbs over the weekend, but he’s essentially back as the No. 4 quarterback. Hodges proved last season that he’s not much of an NFL passer.

The Steelers traded Dobbs right before the 2019 season started for a fifth-round pick and are able to pick him back up without spending a draft pick one year later. It’s a smart move for the Steelers who absolutely need quarterback competition behind Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers offense was unwatchable after Big Ben’s elbow injury. After this transaction, the Steelers released Duck Hodges from their initial 53-man roster.

“If any pick makes sense at any time, then of course we’ll make those picks,” Colbert said during his pre-draft call with media Monday. Along with Ben Roethlisberger, Devlin Hodges, and Mason Rudolph — all three who started at one point or another last year — the Steelers also added former Broncos first-rounder Paxton Lynch last September and J.T. Barrett in Week 17. Given the team’s offensive struggles without Roethlisberger throughout the season, it would be wise for the organization to add another (viable) body to that room.

It’s another horrific game from Hodges, who averaged just 3.8 YPA. The Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs, something Hodges helped seal with his bad quarterbacking in Week 16. Hodges is one of the worst starters we’ve seen in some time. Assuming Ben Roethlisberger is back, Hodges will likely open 2020 third on the depth chart behind Mason Rudolph.

It’s not surprising after NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported earlier that Hodges would be on a short leash Sunday. Picking up where he left off a week ago against Buffalo, Hodges was picked on two of his three drives before getting the hook from coach Mike Tomlin. With Pittsburgh needing a win to stay alive in the AFC Wild Card race, Tomlin simply didn’t have time to let Hodges go through the motions. It remains to be seen whether Rudolph is actually an actual improvement, though something needed to be done with Hodges ending five of his last eight drives with interceptions. He completed 7-of-9 passes for 53 yards and the two aforementioned picks before his benching.

Hodges was benched after throwing a horrendous interception—his second in a span of three drives—in the second quarter, but returned after Mason Rudolph was lost to a second-half shoulder injury. The rookie appeared gun-shy upon his return, holding the ball too long while showing a reluctance to throw downfield. Hodges couldn’t lead the Steelers to fourth-quarter glory, throwing up a prayer to JuJu Smith-Schuster on fourth-and-seven after fumbling the snap. That misfire sealed the Steelers’ Week 16 fate while also complicating their path to the postseason. They’ll need a win and a Titans loss next week to clinch the AFC’s final Wild Card spot. Luckily the Steelers will likely face Baltimore’s backups as the Ravens were able to clinch home-field advantage with Sunday’s win at Cleveland.

Rudolph, who entered after Devlin Hodges was benched in the first half, exited after taking a hit late in the third quarter. He was having a strong game before his injury, completing a respectable 14-of-20 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. Rudolph also added two rushing attempts for no gain while taking one sack, which resulted in a loss of nine yards. Hodges will man the fort in Rudolph’s absence. None of this is ideal for a Steelers team fighting for its playoff life.