A few hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers players began a four-day break on their bye week, the team announced quarterback Mason Rudolph was cleared from NFL concussion protocol.

A team spokesman said Rudolph was cleared Wednesday afternoon by an “independent neurological consultant to fully return to action.” Passing the examination by the independent neurologist is the fifth and final step in the NFL’s concussion protocol program.

This afternoon #Steelers QB Mason Rudolph was cleared by an independent neurological consultant to fully return to action following the team’s bye weekend. Rudolph is no longer in the concussion protocol.

— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) October 16, 2019

The Steelers play Monday, Oct. 28, against the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field.

Rudolph was concussed in the third quarter of the Steelers’ game Oct. 6 against the Baltimore Ravens when safety Earl Thomas hit the quarterback under the chin with his helmet. Thomas was fined $21,000 for the hit.

Rudolph practiced on a limited basis last week in advance of the Steelers’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Although he was not cleared to play, Rudolph made the cross-country trip with the Steelers.

Rookie Devlin Hodges replaced Rudolph as the starter against the Chargers and guided the Steelers to a 24-17 victory that improved their record to 2-4 heading into the bye.

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