PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Before he answered questions on Tuesday, Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett wanted to address what he called false reports that attacked his character. He added that if he was deemed healthy last week, he would have been the starting quarterback.
"There was no talk about me being the back-up quarterback in terms of me being a two," Pickett said about last week against Seattle. "If I was healthy enough to play and the trainers and coaches felt like I looked good enough to play, I was going to start and play. If they believed I was not, which they believed I was not, I was not going to dress and suit up for the game."
When asked about it again, Pickett said he was going to start and play in Seattle or if he wasn't healthy enough, he wouldn't dress. He said it was deemed he wasn't healthy enough by the coaches and trainers.
"He played well," Pickett said of Rudolph against Cincinnati. "They felt where I was at in my recovery they didn't want to push it and suit up and have to get thrown in there. That's why I didn't suit."
As for his health now?
"Percentage-wise, I'm good enough to do what I need to do to play, if need be," Pickett said.
As a competitor, Pickett said he wants the ball this week. He wants the ball in the biggest games of the season, this is what you work for all year are for these moments.
"One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity, so Mason played well when he got in there," Pickett said. "I have a ton of respect for Mason and everything he's done and what our team has been doing. My job, that I'm back healthy, is to be the backup. If something happens, if he goes down, be ready to go and continue to support him the way I've been."
"Whatever it takes to get to the playoffs," Pickett said. "It's all hands on deck. I will be ready if need be."
Pickett said Rudolph played well and the offense is balanced now. When they are able to run the ball, they can open up the play-action and are able to have success. He said it's awesome to see.
"We have a great friendship, truly," Pickett said. "It's been two years with Mitch (Trubisky) and Mason and it's been nothing but awesome every single day sharing laughs and sharing memories. When I would come to the sidelines we would talk. Now when he comes to the sidelines we talk."
"I don't overdo it, overstep. You want to give him information. You don't want too much. He bounces ideas off of me and I bounce them back and it's a good relationship."
Pickett said everything has been so day-by-day, week-by-week, he'll figure out how this affects his future 'when the time comes'.
"Crazy what people will write and put out there to try and prove their point or help their standpoints or their careers in what you guys do," Pickett said. "Disappointed to see that without any proof or basis of it."
