Steelers rookie QB Kenny Pickett worked 2nd behind Mitchell Trubisky in Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars, and he fared quite well. The 1st-round pick completed 6 of 7 passes for 76 yards and a go-ahead TD with time running out at the end of the 1st half. He logged a near-perfect 151.5 passer routing and worked with Pittsburgh's starting pass-catchers. HC Mike Tomlin seemed impressed afterward with Pickett driving the team for the late-1st-half TD. "It's probably who he is," Tomlin said, referring to Pickett's ability to perform under pressure. "I know he did it next door [in college]. He probably did it in high school, and he probably did it in little league. Some things, people are born with." Tomlin also said that he thought Trubisky "played well" and that the team needed to protect him better and run the ball more effectively to give a "fair evaluation" between the QBs. When asked whether there would be any movement on the QB depth chart, Tomlin declined to make any "knee-jerk reactions." From our vantage point, Pickett certainly seems to be building his case for taking over the job at some point this year -- even if he doesn't claim it by Week 1.
The Athletic's Mark Kaboly lists Steelers QB Kenny Pickett among the team's training camp winners. The rookie got off to a slow start in camp but has evidently turned things around. "He’s been more consistent in practice, making quicker decisions," Kaboly writes. "And how can you not take into account what he did in his first preseason game? Now, he still won’t be the starter in Week 1 in Cincinnati, but he seems to be at the point where he can be trusted at the No. 2, and you couldn’t say that three weeks ago." Although QB Mitchell Trubisky remains the heavy favorite to open the season as Pittsburgh's starter, Pickett is still a strong bet to make starts.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor says the Steelers are "likely to push the ball down the field more than in recent years." That would obviously be good for the fantasy football upside for everyone in the passing game (except maybe RB Najee Harris), but it would be an especially positive development for rookie WR George Pickens and 3rd-year WR Chase Claypool. Pickens has generated seemingly nonstop buzz in camp, while Claypool has displayed his downfield talent through 2 pro seasons. Both look attractive in reserve territory of fantasy football drafts.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett got the majority of 2nd-team reps in Monday's practice, the 1st since Pickett went 13-of-15 for 95 yards and 2 TDs in the preseason opener. OC Matt Canada said Monday's work was not a promotion, though, but rather part of the team's plan. “Yeah, we’ve got a system in place,” Canada told Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. “Coach, we’ve had this thing mapped out since I don’t know when. We’ll continue to stay right on our plan and see where it goes.” Canada did add that performance can shake up the plan: "How you play does matter. I don’t act like we’re just going to stick to it no matter what happens. But we have a plan, and until something drastically changes it, we’re going to continue to methodically go through our plan as we see it." We'd still bet on Mitchell Trubisky opening the regular season as Pittsburgh's starter. But we'll see what the play of all 3 Pittsburgh QBs does to affect that.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin made it official Thursday by announcing that QB Mitchell Trubisky will start the preseason opener. He has been working as the lead QB throughout offseason practices and training camp, so this comes as no surprise. We'll see exactly how Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett work in behind Trubisky.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes Steelers QB Mitchell Trubisky is the “clear favorite” to start Week 1. Fowler points out Trubisky’s improved play in recent practices. HC Mike Tomlin even admitted that Trubisky would start should the team need to play a game today. Meanwhile, Fowler writes that “there’s not much feeling” the Steelers will “rush” rookie Kenny Pickett into the starting lineup. With Mason Rudolph turning some heads in camp, this situation might eventually see all 3 guys making starts in 2022.
The Steelers’ initial “unofficial” depth chart has rookie QB Kenny Pickett 3rd behind Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph. That matches with reports of training-camp reps. We’ll see whether preseason action alters the order — as well as how true the depth chart is
Steelers rookie QB Kenny Pickett worked with the 2nd team Monday, ahead of Mason Rudolph. Should we read anything into that? "You should not," HC Mike Tomlin told reporters afterward, according to BehindtheSteelCurtain.com. "But I'm sure you will." Tomlin said he'll keep rotating QBs. Expect the alignments to start mattering more the further we get into August.
Steelers rookie QB Kenny Pickett has been “erratic and inconsistent” early in training camp, per The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly. Meanwhile, Mitch Trubisky has been “progressing” and Mason Rudolph — get this — “continues to shine.” Through 3 practices, all 1st-team reps have gone to Trubisky; all 2nd-team reps to Rudolph. Translation: Pickett, despite his Round 1 status, is an extreme long-shot to start the opener at Cincinnati.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor gives Steelers QB Kenny Pickett a 2% chance of winning the Week 1 starting job. "Throughout OTAs and minicamp, Pickett consistently took third-string reps behind [Mitchell] Trubisky and [Mason] Rudolph," Pryor writes. "To supplant Trubisky as the starter by Week 1, Pickett would have to be the second coming of Johnny Unitas as soon as he hits training camp." We'd give Pickett a better shot at starting opening day just because the competition is so underwhelming. But we've also heard other Steelers beat writers call Trubisky the heavy favorite for the Week 1 nod. We're still projecting Pickett to start more games than Trubisky this year, but it's tough to like the rookie in best-ball drafts if he won't start the whole season.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett practiced with the third-team offense this offseason, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. While a contender for the starting job, Pickett has an “uphill battle” to start the opener at Cincinnati, per Pryor. Outside of superflex leagues, it's easy to avoid Pittsburgh QBs in 2022 fantasy drafts.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin confirmed that 1st-round QB Kenny Pickett will be given a chance to start Week 1. “Yeah, he certainly has a chance,” Tomlin said. “We felt he came ready made and hopefully that’s an asset to him being ready — if performance dictates.” We’d call Mitch Trubisky the favorite to start come September, but he’ll likely be on thin ice.
The Steelers grabbed QB Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickett spent 5 years at Pittsburgh, starting most of the past 4. It wasn’t until 2021 that he broke out, though, throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 TDs. That more than doubled his career total for TD tosses. Pickett brings above-average mobility (72nd-percentile speed score for the position), but he has drawn comparisons with Andy Dalton and Teddy Bridgewater. We see limited fantasy football upside here, but Pickett stands a good chance to beat out QB Mitchell Trubisky this summer. That’s a situation to avoid in early fantasy drafts.
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