Steelers QB Has a Scary Day

Life as the Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback got scary Sunday when Mason Rudolph crumpled from a knockout blow, USA Today reports. The 24-year-old had scrambled on third down and thrown successfully for a conversion when Baltimore Ravens linebacker Matt Judon hit him from behind and safety Earl Thomas from the front. Thomas' helmet hit Rudolph's cheek area and the QB fell, his helmet hitting the turf, and he went limp. (See video here.) Tended to by medical staff, he seemed to regain consciousness a few minutes later and walked slowly off the field.

Rudolph was diagnosed with a concussion and removed from the game. He was a solid 13-30 for 131 yards and a TD pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster at the time, notes CBS Sports. Devlin Hodges, an undrafted rookie from Samford, took over for Rudolph in his first career game. Running back Jaylen Samuels appears to be the team's emergency quarterback. (In other football news, a former college player was released last month from a Chinese prison.)