Kenny Pickett

Justin Fields Gaining Ground To Start For Steelers

August 21st, 2024 at 10:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a quarterback battle for the first time since his rookie training camp, Russell Wilson has already run into limitations due to a calf injury. This gave Justin Fields a chance to receive steady first-string reps. While Pittsburgh’s latest preseason game did not go well on offense, practice work has narrowed this competition.

Neither Fields nor Wilson averaged more than 5.5 yards per attempt against the Bills, the latter’s preseason debut with his new team. Fields was 11-for-17 with 92 yards, while Wilson was 8-for-10 for 47 yards. The younger passer added 42 yards on the ground. The Steelers did not score a touchdown in that game, inviting early concerns for a franchise that has not exactly enjoyed reliable quarterback play since before Ben Roethlisberger‘s 2019 elbow injury.

After Wilson entered camp in pole position, Fields’ car appears to be closer to the veteran’s rearview mirror. The Steelers have naturally been impressed with Fields’ athleticism, to the point Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson indicates the team views his run-game dynamism as a facet that could help provide cover while he continues to develop as a passer. That produced uneven results for the Bears, though they likely would have retained the 2021 first-rounder had an opportunity to land Caleb Williams not come up. Nevertheless, Robinson adds Fields’ odds of overtaking Wilson have improved since the offseason program.

This follows an early-camp report suggesting Fields was making strides toward the starting job. The Steelers were clear in the offseason Wilson would be the starter, with this information coming out immediately after the Fields trade occurred. This early confidence represented an interesting vote of confidence given what transpired in Denver. Wilson, 35, indeed fared better under Sean Payton compared to Nathaniel Hackett. The ex-Seahawks star cited his multiple 2022 injuries as the lead reason for his stunning regression that year, but he now finds himself battling a much younger player for a job.

Rumors about Pittsburgh exploring another contract for Wilson and/or Fields came up during the offseason, and Robinson adds the Steelers believe their long-term quarterback is indeed on the current roster. Both players’ deals expire after the season, and the Steelers will not adjust their in-season negotiating policy for this unique situation. This season will double as a critical fact-finding mission, as the team just bailed on its would-be Roethlisberger successor by unloading Kenny Pickett in a rather messy breakup.

Team brass appears pleased with the decision to move on from its QBs from last season, with Robinson adding the club is relieved not to observe another Pickett-Mitch Trubisky QB room prepare for a season. Pittsburgh’s initial post-Big Ben plan did not work, and team brass was disappointed by the previous setup’s lack of production downfield and lack of ability as playmakers. Fields, 25, certainly provides important playmaking elements but is a work in progress as a passer. Both he and Wilson have also shown a propensity to take an alarming number of sacks. Wilson took 100 during his Broncos tenure. Fields absorbed 99 in that span, with each tying for the league high (55) in 2022.

Tomlin did not call Payton about Wilson, per ESPN’s Sal Palantonio (h/t Pro Football Talk). The reference probably would not have been glowing, given the end between Denver’s HC and former QB, but the Steelers are taking a chance the potential Hall of Famer still has starter-level ability.

“I did not,” Tomlin said of placing a call to Payton. “It’s my job and our job to determine that. And so I don’t run away from responsibilities. It’s just Steelers conducting Steelers business, man. We information gather. We do our appropriate research, and we make decisions and we don’t look back. We don’t seek comfort from the opinion of others that are non-Steelers, respectfully. That’s just how we go about our business.”

The team will soon make its determination, and the fallout from Fields winning would certainly be more interesting than what would happen if Wilson held off the fourth-year passer.

Latest On Steelers’ QB Situation

March 28th, 2024 at 8:17pm CST by Ben Levine

The Steelers entered the offseason with some expectation of shaking up their quarterbacks room. However, Steelers general manager Omar Khan admitted this week that he never would have imagined the team adding both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

“I’m excited about both of those players,” Khan said earlier this week (via Dale Lolley of the team’s website). “They’re both really good quarterbacks. If you would have told me a month ago in Indy that we’d be here and Russell Wilson and Justin Fields would be our quarterbacks, I’d say, I’d be a little bit surprised.”

When the season ended with yet another one-and-done playoff appearance, Khan gave Kenny Pickett a vote of confidence. At the same time, the GM acknowledged that the Steelers would likely add some competition at the position. That mentality didn’t last too long, as both Russell (via free agency) and Fields (via trade) were acquired thanks to massive discounts. The Steelers were also able to find a trade partner for Pickett in the Eagles, allowing them to completely reset their QB depth chart. Despite the sudden pivot, Khan made it clear that it had nothing to do with Pickett’s ability.

“Nothing has changed. I still have a lot of faith in Kenny Pickett,” Khan said. “Kenny’s a good football player, a good quarterback. I think he’s got a big future in the NFL. Things just kind of evolved. I couldn’t really have foreseen that things would go the way they did.”

Now, the Steelers will shift their focus to their two new signal callers. Mike Tomlin made it clear this week that Wilson is in “pole position” to be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback, although Fields will eventually have the “opportunity to compete” when the time comes. Tomlin noted the advantage of having clarity at the position, which is why he’s been straightforward when discussing his team’s QB plan.

“We’ve been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start,” Tomlin said earlier this week (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved. Russell is a veteran, man. He’s got a proven process of readiness. He’s been in this league a long time. He’s capable of rallying troops, receivers, tight ends, running backs, et cetera. He’s just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes to be the guy over the course of a 12-month calendar and I just think that that’s something that a younger guy like Justin could learn from.”

While the Steelers were clearly active in the QB market, the team didn’t pursue the biggest available name. Tomlin told reporters (including Pryor) that the Steelers didn’t make a run at Kirk Cousins, who ended up getting $180MM from the Falcons.

Steelers To Trade Kenny Pickett To Eagles

March 15th, 2024 at 11:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

So much for Russell Wilson needing to compete for the Steelers’ starting job. Hours after the Steelers announced the Wilson signing, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports they are preparing to trade Kenny Pickett to the Eagles.

The Steelers will indeed send Pickett to the Eagles in a pick-swap trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Two years remain on the former first-rounder’s contract. Pickett will be set to back up Jalen Hurts in Philly. Here is how the trade will break down:

Eagles receive:

Kenny Pickett
2024 No. 120 overall pick

Steelers receive:

2024 No. 98 overall pick
Eagles’ two highest 2025 seventh-round choices

Demoted for Mason Rudolph late last season, Pickett wanted to move on. While competition was reported initially, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates the behind-closed-doors understanding upon the Steelers signing Wilson pointed to the former Pro Bowler being the starter and Pickett staying at QB2. Pickett, then, preferred a fresh start, Schefter adds.

This development may not have been the team’s plan when the offseason began. Mike Tomlin had said Pickett would be given the QB1 job but that he would need to earn it by winning a competition. The Steelers did not observe Pickett handle the Wilson news well, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. After indicating he was fine competing for the job, Pickett soured on the situation once the Wilson signing became imminent, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets.

Following Pickett’s disappointment when the team kept Rudolph in the lineup late last year — a stretch that featured Pickett, per Dulac, refusing to dress as the emergency third QB in Week 17 — the team is moving on. Pickett had made it clear to teammates he thought he was the better option to close last season, via ESPN’s Kimberley Martin. Some in the building, however, believed Rudolph was the better option for 2024. In fairness to Pickett, veteran reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala indicates the Steelers reneged on their pledge that he would compete for the job upon informing him Wilson would take over.

Famous for his “volunteers, not hostages” M.O., Tomlin will sign off on this early separation. Rudolph has since signed with the Titans, putting the Steelers in the market for a backup QB once again. They released Mitch Trubisky earlier this year; he has since returned to the Bills.

A New Jersey native, Pickett grew up an Eagles fan. He then became quite familiar with the Steelers while playing at Pitt. The Steelers chose Pickett 20th overall in 2022, naming him as Ben Roethlisberger‘s heir apparent. But Pickett has not shown much to indicate he could fill those shoes. He will now join Sam Howell and Desmond Ridder as 2022 draftees (and primary 2023 starters) traded over the past two days. The 2022 draft class received low marks at the time; other than Brock Purdy, the early returns have not been good.

Due to signing bonus proration, the Steelers will eat more than $8MM in dead money on this trade. Of course, they are set to pay their new starter the veteran minimum as the Broncos pick up the tab. Wilson alluded to a potential competition at his morning presser Friday, but it is probably clear he was informed that would not happen. Two years remain on Pickett’s rookie contract; the Eagles will have the 25-year-old passer tied to $985K and $2.6MM base salaries.

Pickett ranked 27th in QBR last season and 20th in 2022. The ’22 placement came well ahead of Wilson, who submitted a stunningly woeful season alongside Nathaniel Hackett in his Denver debut. Wilson improved under Sean Payton, but the Broncos still bailed — after some back-and-forth drama — before the veteran’s 2025 salary could become guaranteed this month. The Steelers have largely used homegrown rookies at quarterback this century, going from Roethlisberger to Pickett. While Kordell Stewart held the reins for much of the previous decade, the team did use free agent pickup Tommy Maddox in what became a stopgap capacity ahead of Roethlisberger’s near-two-decade-long tenure.

Wilson, 35, will be set to operate in a bridge capacity as well. Though, it should not be expected the Steelers use a high draft choice to add an heir apparent this year. Despite Wilson’s step back in Denver — one that could potentially threaten his Hall of Fame status — Pittsburgh is set to give him the keys. Dulac adds this is the quickest the Steelers have jettisoned a first-round pick since releasing 1996 Round 1 tackle Jamain Stephens following his second season.

On Feb. 29, GM Omar Khan said he had full faith in Pickett. While he cited competition as important for the would-be third-year starter, a recent report also indicated a meeting between the QB and new OC Arthur Smith went well. But the Wilson news emerged soon after. While Wilson has not shown much of his Seahawks form since the 2022 blockbuster trade, Pickett winning a potential competition seemed unrealistic. There will now be no competition involving Pickett this year, as Hurts is entrenched as the Eagles’ starter.

Pickett has thrown just 13 touchdown passes in 25 games, starting 24 of those. Although the Steelers rolled out a poor offense for most of Pickett’s tenure, he showed some promise late in his rookie season. But 2022’s top QB pick did not build on that form last season. This led to OC Matt Canada being fired. This preceded a Pickett ankle injury that required surgery. The 6-foot-3 passer will carry just a 6.3 yards-per-attempt figure to Philly, which did not re-sign Marcus Mariota this offseason.

Steelers To Meet With QB Russell Wilson

March 8th, 2024 at 8:45am CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 8: It is looking like Wilson’s Steelers visit will take place soon. The decorated quarterback was spotted Friday morning catching a flight to Pittsburgh from a Newark airport, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Thus far, the Steelers have been the only team connected to meeting with the soon-to-be released QB. The meeting will, in fact, occur within the next 24 hours, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Wilson will meet with Mike Tomlin and other Steelers brass soon.

MARCH 7: As expected, Russell Wilson will not be in Denver for the 2024 season. His next destination is unknown, but an early potential suitor has emerged.

The Steelers are interested in the former Super Bowl winner, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. He adds that a visit which would take place before the start of free agency next week is being tentatively planned. Wilson will not be released until the new league year officially opens (on March 13), but he has been granted permission to find a new home in the meantime.

Wilson’s market will be an interesting one given his financial situation. $39MM in 2024 compensation is already guaranteed from the Broncos – less the presumed league minimum salary paid by his new team – so he can be added at a fraction of the cost of other available quarterbacks. The 35-year-old showed signs of improvement during his one-and-done campaign under Sean Payton, but he still fell well short of expectations given his five-year, $245MM extension signed upon arrival in Denver.

The Steelers have been floated as a potential Wilson landing spot given their uncertainty under center. 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett is atop the depth chart for the time being, but it is well known the team will add competition in the offseason. Mason Rudolph – who occupied the starting role even after Picket was healthy toward the end of the 2023 campaign – is in discussion on another Pittsburgh re-up, but the release of Mitch Trubisky opened up room for an additional experienced option.

Wilson could fill that vacancy and in doing so provide stability at the QB spot relative to Pickett’s injury-marred and inconsistent tenure. However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes the Steelers are expected to provide the Pitt alum with another opportunity as a starter under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The ex-Falcons head coach enjoyed success at the coordinator level overseeing a ground-heavy approach with the Titans, and a similar setup could be used in Pittsburgh in 2024.

Dulac notes Wilson is interested in the Steelers, but he adds the longtime Seahawks starter is also in conversation with “at least one other team” at this point. An agreement could be in place at any time before or after free agency, but Pittsburgh and any other suitors will no doubt weigh other options on the QB market before circling back to Wilson. In any event, he could have at least a few opportunities to choose from once his Broncos release is finalized and he can officially join a third career franchise.

Steelers To Start Mason Rudolph In Week 18

January 1st, 2024 at 12:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The final week of the regular season will begin with the Ravens and Steelers facing each other. While the former team has clinched the top seed in the AFC, the latter enters the contest with their playoff hopes on the line.

Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett is in better shape from a health perspective than he was last week as he continues to recover from ankle surgery, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday. In spite of that, he announced that Mason Rudolph will start once again on Saturday. The upcoming game will mark Rudolph’s third consecutive start.

When Pickett when down with an ankle injury which required a procedure, Mitch Trubisky took over on offense. The latter’s struggles led to Rudolph taking over midway through the Steelers’ loss to the Colts, however, and he was given the nod for Week 16. The 28-year-old impressed in Pittsburgh’s win over Cincinnati, meaning that Pickett’s return to practice was insufficient to make another QB change the following week.

Rudolph and the Steelers’ offense delivered a strong showing on Sunday in Seattle, leading the team to a 30-23 victory and improving their record to 9-7. An AFC wild-card berth is still in play as a result, making Tomlin’s decision under center a crucial one. Pickett will be able to practice more in the coming days than he did last week, and as such he will likely be able to dress for the regular season finale. As things stand now, though, he will not be counted on in a must-win game.

With the Ravens having locked up the No. 1 seed, the strong possibility exists they will rest a number of key starters on Saturday. While that would help the Steelers’ playoff push, they will require a win and help from at least one other result to secure a postseason berth. A pending free agent, Rudolph could help not only Pittsburgh’s short-term prospects but also his financial outlook for the offseason by continuing his strong play in Week 18.

Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Expected To Return In Week 17; Mason Rudolph To Start

December 29th, 2023 at 12:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 29: Tomlin confirmed Friday it will be Rudolph starting against the Seahawks. Pickett is close to full strength, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, but the Steelers will stick with Rudolph — their third-stringer for most of the past two seasons — after his performance against the Bengals. A sixth-year veteran, Rudolph has now been slotted in all three positions on Pittsburgh’s QB depth chart this season.

DECEMBER 26, 11:33am: When speaking to the media on Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin said the team will adopt a similar setup to the one used at practice last week. As a result, Pickett will see some reps as his recovery continues, but for now Rudolph remains atop the depth chart. The latter is in line to hold first-team duties in consecutive games after seeing a combined two starts from 2020-22.

8:58am: The Steelers put an end to a three-game losing streak this weekend with Mason Rudolph under center. The team’s third-stringer may have played his way into another start, but Kenny Pickett could be an option in time for their next contest.

The latter is expected to return to the lineup for Week 17, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (video link). Pickett has been sidelined for three full games after undergoing surgery on a high ankle sprain. Pittsburgh elected not to place him on injured reserve, a move which would have guaranteed a four-week absence. That left the door open to a quicker return, but reports pointed to a month-long absence being expected.

Getting Pickett back would be a welcomed development for the Steelers, although the team’s offense has been a sore spot for much of the season with and without him in the lineup. Rudolph posted a passer rating of 124 in Week 16’s win over the Bengals, a game which had major implications for Pittsburgh’s playoff chances. It would come as a surprise, however, if Pickett did not get the nod in the event he received clearance to return to the lineup.

The top quarterback selected in the 2022 class, Pickett has not progressed in his second season as many hoped he would. The 25-year-old has been at the heart of a passing attack which struggled to find a rhythm during the early portions of the season. That led to the firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, but the chances of the current setup with Mike Sullivan serving as play-caller remaining in place beyond this season are slim.

That is in part due to the underwhelming play of backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who originally filled in for Pickett after his injury. The former No. 2 pick was replaced in favor of Rudolph, however, and he faces an uncertain future with the team despite being under contract through 2025. Pickett, too, is the subject of questions regarding his long-term viability given his lack of development in his brief NFL tenure.

Strong play at the QB spot from Pickett or Rudolph would help the Steelers’ playoff push. The 8-7 outfit is still in contention for a wild-card spot with games against the Seahawks and Ravens remaining on the schedule. With plenty still on the line, Pickett’s status throughout the week will be worth monitoring.

Steelers To Start Mason Rudolph In Week 16

December 21st, 2023 at 11:42am CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 21: For a third straight game, the Steelers will be without Pickett. Tomlin confirmed the second-year starter will miss Week 16, bringing Rudolph back to the forefront. After an eight-start 2019 season, the longtime Ben Roethlisberger backup has made two starts since.

DECEMBER 18: As foreshadowed over the weekend, the Steelers will be making a switch under center. Head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Monday that Mason Rudolph will get the start in Week 16 against the Bengals.

In his post-game remarks after a loss to the Colts on Saturday, Tomlin declined to confirm if Mitch Trubisky would retain the starting role. Tomlin hinted that changes on offense would be coming after Pittsburgh lost a third straight game to drop to 7-7. Now, that has been confirmed.

Rudolph will receive first-team reps in practice this week, although Tomlin did say (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) that starter Kenny Pickett has a chance to return to the field in time for the Cincinnati game. With Rudolph already having been named the starter, though, Pickett’s return would only be in a backup capacity as he recovers from ankle surgery.

Trubisky took over for Pickett during the Steelers’ upset loss to the Cardinals. He then started against the Patriots and Colts, games in which the team’s offensive struggles continued. In need of a late-season spark to stay alive in the wild-card race, Pittsburgh will now turn to Rudolph, who made his 2023 debut in the closing moments of Saturday’s game. The 28-year-old did not see the field last year, and the most recent of his 10 career starts came in 2021.

Rudolph was expected to find himself on a new team this offseason by means of a free agent departure. Signing with a new team could have created a clearer path to playing time, but in May he ultimately decided to re-up with the Steelers once again. That one-year pact worth the veteran minimum will now give the former third-rounder another opportunity to earn a role in Pittsburgh or a new team in the offseason.

Unlike Rudolph, Trubisky is on the books through 2025. The former No. 2 pick joined the Steelers on a two-year deal last spring, and he inked an extension this past offseason to continue serving as Pickett’s backup. Trubisky has not fared well during his time on the field this season, however, and today’s move marks a blow to the confidence the team has in him given the importance of their three-game stretch to close out the season.

Tomlin also announced safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will miss the Steelers’ contest against the Bengals. The All-Pro is dealing with a knee injury which forced him to leave the Colts loss. While Fitzpatrick’s’ absence will be felt on defense, plenty of attention will be on Rudolph and the offense as the Steelers look to end their losing streak and keep their playoff chances alive.

Steelers Notes: Tomlin, Sullivan, Pickett

December 13th, 2023 at 5:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ Mitchell Trubisky-quarterbacked losses to the Cardinals and Patriots are not likely to lead to a Mike Tomlin ouster. The patient organization is not expected to move the 17th-year HC to the hot seat, but some issues with Tomlin’s moves have come up within the building.

As of now, it does not look likely the Steelers will make another in-house promotion to fill the offensive coordinator role. Play-caller Mike Sullivan has next to no chance to follow in Randy Fichtner and Matt Canada‘s footsteps, according to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post.

Although the Steelers received an initial bump with Sullivan calling the shots, it was short-lived. They surpassed 400 total yards for the first time since Week 2 of the 2020 season, but the team has endured ugly home losses in the weeks since. A former Buccaneers and Giants OC, Sullivan is working as the Steelers’ play-caller while Eddie Faulkner — previously the team’s running backs coach — holds the interim OC title. Both Fichtner (who replaced Todd Haley in 2018) and Canada (who replaced Fichtner in 2021) were elevated from QBs coach to OC; Sullivan is unlikely to make the same move. Some of Tomlin’s hiring choices have drawn questions inside the organization, and La Canfora adds it is likely ownership will play a role as Tomlin searches for his next play-caller.

Slow starts and the inconsistent usage of promising former UDFA Jaylen Warren have also confounded some in the team’s building, per La Canfora, but Kenny Pickett‘s status is also worth monitoring. Last year’s No. 20 overall pick has not taken off in his second season, and while he has not had much time to work with Sullivan calling the plays, the Pitt product has underwhelmed based on his draft status. Questions within the organization remain concerning Pickett’s development, JLC adds.

Two years remain on Pickett’s rookie contract, and although the Steelers’ next OC will play the lead role in this development effort, the team has seen its efforts thus far stall. Pickett sits 25th in QBR, after ranking 20th in a low-octane rookie season that did include some promising late-game showings near its conclusion. Pickett has managed only 13 touchdown passes in 24 starts; he has posted just a 6.3-yard average per attempt over his career. It is not yet known if the Steelers want to take the route the 2020 Bears took with Trubisky, acquiring a veteran (Nick Foles) to compete with the scuffling starter. But concern about Pickett’s progress is probably warranted at this point.

Tomlin, 51, did not receive an extension this offseason, but if the Steelers are planning to retain him for 2024 — thus far, all signs point to the affirmative — they will likely hand out another contract before next season to avoid lame-duck status. Once again, the well-regarded HC’s .500-or-better streak is in jeopardy. Trubisky is set to make another start, and the wild-card contender (7-6) is sinking fast.

Even with the Steelers’ penchant for coach stability, Tomlin has generated scrutiny in recent years. The team has not won a playoff game since a touchdown-less triumph over the Chiefs in the 2016 divisional round, losing twice at home since. The Steelers’ status quo may face bigger-picture questions in 2024. How the franchise, which is still positioned in a wild-card spot despite the recent defeats, reassembles pieces may well become pivotal toward Tomlin’s long-term standing.

Steelers Rule Out Kenny Pickett For Week 15; Mitch Trubisky To Remain Starter

December 11th, 2023 at 11:59am CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers were without Kenny Pickett for their Thursday night loss to kick off Week 14. The same will hold true of their starting quarterback for their next game.

When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Mike Tomlin announced Pickett will be out for Pittsburgh’s Saturday contest against the Colts. As he recovers from surgery on a sprained ankle, Mitch Trubisky will again get the nod for Pittsburgh in a game with signficant AFC playoff implications.

A report from last week indicated the Steelers were preparing for a four-week Pickett absence, so today’s update comes as little surprise. Pittsburgh elected not to place the 2022 first-rounder on injured reserve, though, leaving the door open to a return on a shorter timeline. While Pickett continues to rehab from surgery, Trubisky will be counted on to deliver an improved performance from the Steelers’ offense, a unit which has drawn heavy criticism throughout the season.

OC Matt Canada was fired in a rare in-season coaching change, but the new setup on the sidelines did not produce a spark over a disappointing two-game span last week. Losses to the Cardinals and Patriots leave the Steelers at 7-6, making them one of six teams at that record in the AFC’s wild-card picture. The Colts are another, and they will have Gardner Minshew at quarterback in what will be a battle of the backups this Saturday.

While Trubisky is in line to get another start – his seventh as a Steeler – third-stringer Mason Rudolph will also get some practice work this week, Tomlin added. However, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor notes it is unlikely the latter will realistically receive a chance to start. Regardless of who is under center, the Steelers will require improved play on offense compared to recent performances to maintain a playoff position.

Latest On Steelers QB Kenny Pickett

December 8th, 2023 at 8:56am CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers made unwanted history over the past few days by losing consecutive contests against teams eight games under .500 via their upset defeats against the Cardinals and Patriots. In the latter contest, backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky filled in for an injured Kenny Pickett. That setup will likely continue for the time being.

Pickett suffered a high ankle sprain during Sunday’s loss to Arizona, and he underwent surgery the next day in an attempt to minimize the time he missed as a result of the injury. Pittsburgh elected not to place him on injured reserve, a move which would have guaranteed a four-week absence. In spite of that, the team is indeed “bracing” for the possibility of Pickett missing that much time, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

The 2022 first-rounder was immediately ruled out for the Steelers’ Thursday night game in the wake of his procedure, but no further updates to his status have been announced. While his availability on a game-by-game basis will thus be worth monitoring closely, the Steelers face the possibility of relying on Trubisky at the helm for a critical late season stretch. Pittsburgh now sits at 7-6 on the outside of the AFC’s wild-card picture.

Pickett’s Year 2 performance had not lived up to expectations prior to his injury, with the Steelers’ offense as a whole struggling to find consistent production. The decision to dismiss offensive coordinator Matt Canada – which came about from head coach Mike Tomlin after multiple discussions with owner Art Rooney II – seemed to spark a turnaround in a win over the Bengals. The Steelers topped 400 yards in that game, but their offense took a step back in the Cardinals and Patriots losses, leaving the team with a challenging path in the closing weeks of the campaign.

Trubisky – who began the 2022 season as the starter before being replaced by Pickett on a full-time basis – has 56 starts to his name, making him an experienced spot starter. The former Bears No. 2 pick has generally put up underwhelming numbers during his time in Pittsburgh, however, which will lead to questions about the team’s offensive capabilities down the stretch. As Pickett’s status remains in the air, the possibility looms that Trubisky will be counted on to steer the Steelers back into the playoff picture.

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