Until last weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the only NFL organization not to have a team member added to the reserve/covid list.

After two top players tested positive within a three-day span, the Steelers could be short-handed on each side of the ball when they play at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night.

Coach Mike Tomlin is proceeding with the idea that the 5-3-1 Steelers won’t have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger or free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick available when they make their first visit to SoFi Stadium and face the 5-4 Chargers.

Tomlin also hopes Roethlisberger and Fitzpatrick are isolated incidents that won’t lead to more players being ruled out from playing Sunday because of the virus.

“We have exercised an abundance of precaution,” he said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “That won’t change.”

Change, though, will take place under center and in the secondary if Roethlisberger and Fitzpatrick aren’t cleared. Tomlin said Roethlisberger, who was placed on the reserve/covid list Saturday night, was symptomatic. He will need to pass two PCR tests taken at least 24 hours apart and be free of symptoms for 48 hours before he can be activated. Fitzpatrick was added to the list Monday, giving him less time to pass covid protocols.

Mason Rudolph will make his second consecutive start at quarterback if Roethlisberger doesn’t receive clearance. Tomlin said multiple players will be used to replace Fitzpatrick, who hasn’t missed a game since the Steelers acquired him early in the 2018 season.

Roethlisberger took part virtually in team meetings that were held Monday when Tomlin announced that the gameplan this week will be centered around Rudolph’s preferred play selection.

With Roethlisberger’s diagnosis coming less than 18 hours before the Steelers played to a 16-16 tie against the Detroit Lions, Rudolph had to run the offense built around Roethlisberger’s tendencies.

“We’re going to highlight his talents and skills relative to the opponents that we intend to play,” Tomlin said of Rudolph. “We’re going to build that plan. We’re going to work that plan.

“We’ve got a young offensive unit, and we’ll let that lead us throughout the week.

“If we get to a point in the week where Ben has an opportunity to get on a moving train, that’s exactly what he’ll do. He’ll be capable of executing the gameplan. I really have no reservations about that.”

Last season, Roethlisberger missed a week of practice because he was determined to be in close contact with tight end Vance McDonald, who tested positive a day after playing against Dallas. Despite getting no reps during the week, Roethlisberger passed for 333 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-10 victory against Cincinnati.

Rudolph will take the starter’s share of the snaps in practice this week, with Dwayne Haskins serving as the backup. James Morgan, added to the practice squad Monday, will work with the scout team.

“There are not a lot of significant differences,” Tomlin said. “Mason plugged into Ben’s plan last week, and we didn’t necessarily change that. And, largely, he functioned in the way we needed him to. He gave us a chance to win.”

Rudolph completed 30 of 50 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown and an interception that was the first thrown by a Steelers quarterback in five games.

“If I could be critical of him in any way, I thought he could have been better from a pinpoint accuracy standpoint in some circumstances to set up run after (the catch),” Tomlin said.

Fitzpatrick has started 39 consecutive games in the secondary for the Steelers. His backup at free safety, as listed on the team’s official depth chart, is rookie seventh-round pick Tre Norwood, whose 28 snaps against Detroit were his most since the second week of the season. Veteran Miles Killebrew, who primarily plays special teams, is another possibility to help fill in at the position.

The Steelers also could promote strong safety Karl Joseph from the practice squad. Undrafted free agent Donovan Stiner, who also is on the practice squad, played free safety in training camp.

“I imagine it’s going to be a multi-person discussion,” Tomlin said. “Just like the replacement of (slot corner) Mike Hilton has been a multi-person endeavor. When you’ve got significant players, those that are multi-talented, usually that’s the case as opposed to putting the onus of it on one individual.”

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