For the second time this season, the Steelers lost their rookie quarterback midway through a game. Kenny Pickett exited Pittsburgh’s loss to the Ravens during the first quarter and was quickly ruled out by the team while in concussion protocol. 
The same situation took place in mid-October, when the first-rounder was knocked out of the Steelers’ Week 6 win over the Buccaneers. That, in turn, came not long after the team had officially committed to him as their starting signal-caller moving forward, after a brief and underwhelming start to the campaign by free agent signing Mitch Trubisky.
It was once again the veteran who took over for the remainder of this game. Trubisky helped the Steelers move the ball throughout the contest, but his performance was crippled by three interceptions made deep in Ravens territory. The former No. 2 overall pick finished the game completing 22 of 30 passes for 276 yards and one touchdown in addition to the trio of picks.
Trubisky has one season remaining on the deal he signed this offseason, but the timing of Pickett’s ascension to the starting role has led to a widespread expectation that the one-time Pro Bowler will find himself elsewhere in 2023. The same has reportedly been predicted in the case of the team’s third-string QB, Mason Rudolph. The latter was not a serious contender for the No. 1 spot during Pittsburgh’s summer competition, and has yet to see the field in 2022.
Today’s loss drops the Steelers to 5-8, and stops the momentum the team had built up by winning three of four games after their bye week entering the contest. Attention will turn to Pickett’s recovery from a second major head injury suffered in less than one season, and Trubisky’s performance in Week 15 against the Panthers if he is required to start.
3 picks. “That’s why we didn’t want Mitch throwing to the middle of the field.”
Early Christmas gifts
“But, but Trubisky has done way better than Pickett will ever do!” — lots of fellow Steeler fans, mostly the ones who don’t know what they’re talking about.
2 concussions in one year. 4 games left. 1 leaky O-Line. 0 playoffs.
Is thinking about shutting him down crazy? Has a player ever had 3 in one season? We’d be talking about half a season technically…
Not crazy at all. His health is paramount, as is his future. What’s crazy is anyone thinking that either Trubisky or Rudolph would be auditioning for anything other than second-string going forward. If they play, it’s because Pickett can’t or shouldn’t.
No shutdown. Pickett needs the reps. Maybe he’ll be better at avoiding pressure and throwing more quickly. Trial by fire.
More reps as a retired 24yr old. I hope you are being sarcastic.
Someone on another thread was saying how far the offense had come. While the o-line may be a bit better than a few weeks ago, they still get pushed back quickly in almost every passing situation.
I feel badly for Pickett. That’s two concussions already.
Both sides of the line are porous and this is just a bad team. I don’t know where they go from here at QB, but we saw what has defined Trubisky’s career in today’s game
The O-line still stinks at pass blocking, yeah.
Kenny may have gotten concussion by Roquan, but he’s lucky Queen didn’t decapitate him. Completely untouched after showing blitz. Wild.
Daniels is a keeper. Cole is a keeper, though maybe not at center. The other 3 spots are black holes, and yes including Chuks Okorafor.
You might be right about Chuks. But the priority should be finding a LT and drafting a center.
The Steelers need to load up on both sides of the line this off-season. They can’t run consistently, they don’t protect their QBs at all, and they haven’t been ble to stop the run consistently for a couple of years now.
Facts. Agreed on Daniels. Cole is fine as a weak link, but I’d rather have him as Grade A depth along the interior. Chuks would be a great swing tackle. Again, if he’s your worst of the starting 5 you’re probably fine.
But as a whole, they just stink. Agree on loading up in the trenches.
@MonkeysUncle, I just don’t think one off-season can cure what’s wrong with this team. I mean…
-the o-line needs revamping that won’t just come from the draft. You’re talking about a number of players
-the d-line is just as bad, if not worse. Can you remember ever being blown away by running attacks game after game?
-the lack of middle line backing is just as bad
-the secondary still has essentially one stud
-special teams are atrocious. Include the punter here
-And again, as someone who was always a Tomlin supporter, I have to wonder if it’s time to either move on or take control of just who his assistant coaches are. Abject failures all around
And lastly, again, I supported drafting Kenny. Two thoughts come to mind here:
-Mitch is a bum but was brought here to be the bridge QB, if for no other reason than to avoid the pounding he’s taken
-We are no closer to knowing if Pickett is “the guy” given all of the above
What a dark period in Pittsburgh sports
Tomlin’s downfall will be his insistence on building a coaching team of “yes” men. He has a completely non-existent coaching tree as we get closer to two decades in the role. I’ve always been a fan but if he won’t change then I think it’s time for him to go
Pirates home opener is April 7 🙂
Dude had taken some nasty hits. Despite how the season is going he is still completing around 65% if passes. Just needs to learn better decision making but I actually like the kid
Torn ACL for Deebo
Nope, seems just like an ankle sprain, avoided a major injury according to Jordan Schultz
Tyler Huntley of the Ravens also had to leave today’s game in Pittsburgh with a concussion. Such must be an unwanted first — both starting QBs ruled out of the same game by concussions.
Was he actually concussed the first time? This time? Or was he put in the protocol and they were cautious?
Wasn’t he back at practice two days later last time?
Either way, the biggest problem for the Steelers no one mentions is that Najee goes down the second someone breathes on him. Seem to recall him being able to break tackles last year. Now he makes Dri Archer seem like the Bus.
I followed Najee’s career at Alabama and was thrilled at the selection but let’s face it, he’s not getting much help from his o-line. On the contrary, my memories of last year were often of him, the handoff and the opponent’s d-line often meeting in the backfield
This year, it’s only been marginally better and he’s had some games where he’s broken off some runs
I’m not defending Najee, mind you. I do believe the constant pounding turned him into a straight ahead runner or even a guy who could bounce to the outside to a hesitant type. Shame. After the last couple games I was hoping he was regaining the Alabama style
But the Steelers were simply manhandled on both sides of the ball today
Need an edit button here. Turned him FROM a….
He’s been significantly better in that regard the last 3 games…
Assuming that Pickett will be ruled out next week (and probably a few weeks), is it officially time to pull the plug on Mitch and put in Rudolph? He’s not a starter, but was always serviceable as Big Ben’s stand in. Give him a shot to win (or keep) the #2 spot for next year.
It’s not often I’d give this answer, but in this position, I’d go whichever direction the locker room is leaning.
Can make an argument either way, and the season is over, so why not?
Rudolph knows the playbook really well… and that’s all. He’s not a good player. Had to have someone in the QB room who knows the playbook with Big Ben retired.
The Steelers aren’t likely to win the Super Bowl this year, so I hope they do the right thing and take proper care of Pickett.
Pickett needs to play to further develop him. Once Drs clear him. He goes back in. Now Watt. I might shut down.
All Pickett is developing is the ability to scramble every time a pass play is called. He already the legs. With two concussions already, time to sit him and draft a couple stud o-linemen while signing a couple more via free agency. And can the OC, as well, with his dink and dunk pass plays and jet sweeps aplenty. Enough already
And I agree with Lou Whitaker above and the PG’s Dulac. If anything, Rudolph had the best camp and was never given a chance.
They drafted the kid, watched as Roethlisberger shunned him and the idea of an heir apparent and put him behind a line that again, got him beaten up against the Ravens, Browns and others. Why not play him? This team is going nowhere