Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett has been impressive, so impressive that the job was the almost guaranteed to be Mitch Trubisky’s has turned into at least a perceived competition.
Pickett knows he’s getting better too.
“Comfortable with the offense, playing fast trusting that my eyes/my feet are tied together,” Pickett said on Wednesday. “I’m going through my reads, my progressions and just getting the ball out of my hand fast. Happy with how I’ve progressed that way throughout camp. I definitely want to keep it going.”
His stats show that he’s progressing as well.
The NFL GameDay Twitter account points out that Pickett has the highest passer rating among rookies in the preseason since 2015, 138.6.
Tomlin even went as far to say this final preseason game against the Detroit Lions this weekend will go far in determining who will be starting in Week One and specifically at quarterback.
But even though he says that, does he mean it?
ESPN’s Dianna Russini says a source within the organization tells her it is “Mitchell Trubisky’s job to lose.”
That would be consistent with what we’ve seen an heard throughout the preseason.
Russini does say that the Steelers have been “very impressed with Pickett’s play on the field and he’s overall knowledge in the class room, but for now, this is Trubisky’s job.”
While it remains Trubisky’s job at this point, he is reportedly on a short leash.
What’s unknown is how short that least is and what it is going to take for Pickett to take over as QB1.