The Steelers’ current playoff run raises concerns about the team’s future.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Mike Tomlin refuses to discuss the future. Mason Rudolph or Kenny Pickett are also options.

Given that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ topsy-turvy regular season concludes on Saturday at Baltimore with a chance to creep closer to a postseason berth that appeared improbable just two weeks ago, that’s probably prudent.

There’s still a lot on the line — at least in the short term — for a team that has vacillated between interesting and inactive for four months. The Steelers may make the playoffs in a variety of ways, the majority of which rely on beating the Ravens (13-3) and receiving help from either Tennessee or Miami on Sunday.

Whatever happens this weekend, given Pittsburgh’s extremely inconsistent play, it’s difficult to see the Steelers staying in the playoffs for long if they get there, laying the scenario for an offseason in which they may have to re-evaluate the team’s most crucial position.

And it’s all because of a player who was relegated to the depth chart for the greater part of four years.

Rudolph’s steady and occasionally brilliant play has provided a welcome, if unexpected, boost to Pittsburgh’s dormant offense. For the first time since 2020, the Steelers have scored 30 points in consecutive weeks. They gained 468 yards in Seattle, where the team had previously won only once in nine attempts.

Now, the athlete slated to become a free agency in March who questioned if he’d be in commercial real estate by the end of 2024 appears to be on an NFL squad by this time next year. Perhaps even in Pittsburgh.

“I love playing for this team and winning games,” Rudolph remarked on Tuesday. “We’ll keep trying to do that.”

Rudolph has been able to accomplish — at least over the course of two games against defenses ranked near the bottom of the league — what Pickett and Mitch Trubisky have mainly failed to do for the past two years: make downfield throws and consistently send the Steelers to the end zone.

Since taking over for an ineffective Trubisky, the player who first caught the attention of then-Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert while lighting up the University of Pittsburgh for 497 yards passing and five touchdown passes in an Oklahoma State win at Acrisure Stadium in 2017 is averaging 11.1 yards per pass attempt.

Yes, the sample size is small. Still, it represents what Tomlin refers to as Rudolph’s “calculated risk-taking” attitude, which Pickett has yet to fully embrace.

Rudolph’s emergence has switched the spotlight away from Tomlin’s grip on the locker room and wide receiver George Pickens’ fickle connection with reporters (and run blocking) and toward what the Steelers will do at quarterback in 2024 in just two weeks.

Tomlin has been Pickett’s staunchest supporter since Pittsburgh selected him in the first round of the 2022 selection. He entered the 2023 season optimistic about Pickett’s improvement, predicting Pickett will “kill it.”

It hasn’t happened for a variety of reasons. Pickett has only six touchdown passes on the season, the fewest of any quarterback with at least 300 pass attempts in the league.

Pickett spent Tuesday disputing accusations that he refused to serve as Rudolph’s backup in Seattle after recuperating from right ankle surgery, rather than discussing starting in a possibly season-defining game against their biggest opponent.

It’s not exactly what the Steelers expected following a high-flying preseason that raised expectations.

Those expectations were not met.

Still, Rudolph and the Steelers might be able to sneak in. This has happened before. If they do, Rudolph will almost certainly keep his job, and Pittsburgh will almost certainly have to reassess its quarterback room design heading into the summer.

The Steelers, while appearing to be mired in NFL limbo — too good to be bad, too bad to be good — are never dull.

WHAT IS SUCCESSIVE

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren divide the workload. The two running backs have combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense, giving the Steelers possibly the strongest one-two combo in the NFL. They’ve also done it without any underlying drama, which is pleasant for a squad that has seen it in other position groups this season.

WHAT IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE

While the defense has been able to limit points despite a seemingly never-ending spate of ailments at inside linebacker and safety, yards have been plenty.

The Steelers have allowed 353 yards per game over their last four games and now face the NFL’s second-highest-scoring offense, albeit it may be without MVP favorite Lamar Jackson if the Ravens decide to rest him for the playoffs.

GET STOCKED

Watt became the second Steeler in history to be named team MVP by his teammates for the fourth time on Tuesday.

The perennial All-Pro is tied for the NFL lead with 17 sacks and has a chance to win his second AP Defensive Player of the Year Award if he can make a late push against the Ravens.

STOCK REDUCTION

Center Mason Cole’s shotgun snaps have been an issue at times this season, and while he’s worked on them regularly, there are still a few snaps per game that threaten to get away from Rudolph, whose quick reactions averted disaster on two instances in Seattle.

INJURIES

Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and Elandon Roberts (pectoral) did not practice on Tuesday, and their chances of participating are slim at best.

INJURIES

Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and Elandon Roberts (pectoral) did not practice on Tuesday, and their chances of participating are slim at best.

NUMBER OF THE KEY

1 — the number of regular-season games — out of 275 — in which the Steelers have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs during Tomlin’s 17-year tenure.

UPCOMING STEPS

Attempt to maintain momentum in Baltimore on Saturday and hope for some help from Miami and/or Tennessee on Sunday to make the playoffs.