On cut-down day, despite Hodges’ superlative camp and solid preseason, Mike Tomlin confirmed the expert’s assessments by having the Steelers release the Duck. End of story.
Except that it wasn’t.
A week into the season, the Steelers traded backup Josh Dobbs to the Jaguars and signed Hodges to the practice squad.
A week later, they lost Big Ben for the season and added Hodges to the roster.
Three weeks hence, the Ravens knocked Mason Rudolph from a game with a concussion.
Amazingly, the Steelers then found themselves being quarterbacked by a Duck in a crucial game against a fierce divisional rival.