Rookie Kenny Pickett is ready to obtain extra snaps within the Steelers' preseason recreation in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, because the competitors for Pittsburgh's beginning QB job continues.
Pickett, who has principally taken snaps with the Steelers' second unit in apply, obtained first-team reps this week. Nonetheless, Mitchell Trubisky is ready to get the beginning nod over Pickett in Saturday's matchup, coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Thursday.
"We merely wish to see Kenny in additional varsity motion," Tomlin instructed reporters. "This can be a large week for [Pickett] by way of possibly getting within the first half of this recreation and I might think about getting the chance to see frontline defenders for Jacksonville."
On Friday's "The Herd," Colin Cowherd defined why the opportune time to play Pickett is earlier than later.
"Mike Tomlin, I feel he is seeing what all people's seeing," Cowherd mentioned. "Everyone on the earth is aware of what Trubisky is. We have seen it — highs and lows. Everyone, all these years, in is aware of what Mason Rudolph is. We have seen it. The one quarterback [that] the Steelers have that we actually do not know if it could possibly be particular — as a result of Trubisky and Mason Rudolph are … succesful, not particular — is Kenny Pickett.
"Why not play him in opposition to the Jags?"
"You already know what Trubisky is [and] you realize what Mason Rudolph is," Cowherd continued. "You do not know what Kenny Pickett is. When are you gonna discover out? I would discover out within the subsequent two video games that do not rely. Let me see one thing. Put him proper up on the sector with Trevor Lawrence, and let's examine it. … At this level, a 24-year-old with 4 years beginning, simply received the ACC [championship] — what're you ready for? We all know what's within the room. He is the one man [that] we do not know what we get."
Pickett — the No. 20 choose within the 2022 NFL Draft out of Pittsburgh — had a glowing debut within the Steelers' first preseason recreation in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks. He completed the evening with 95 passing yards and two touchdowns on 13-for-15 passing.
Pittsburgh completed final season 9-7-1, good for second within the AFC North, earlier than shedding within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs. That marked the Steelers' third loss in its first postseason recreation prior to now 4 years. Pittsburgh has not received a playoff recreation because the 2016 season.
