PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mitch Trubisky says he expects to be the starter at practice on Wednesday. He expects to start the preseason game on Sunday. After that he’s not sure, but feels he’s done what he’s needed to be replace Ben Roethlisberger as the new Steelers QB-1.
“I think I have,” Trubisky said. “Just how I carry myself every day. What I've done on the practice field. Would like to have done more last game, obviously. Hopefully get another opportunity this week to show why I should be."
Trubisky is 9 of 15 for 123 yards with a touchdown in his first series of the preseason. Rookie Kenny Pickett is 19 of 22 for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Not ruled out of the competition, but last week the third-string quarterback, Mason Rudolph is 26 of 36 for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“It’s been a limited sample, but I think I’ve done a lot of great things in practice, a lot of good throws in the game,” Trubisky said. “I’m just focusing on what we can improve as a unit right now which is staying on the field on third down and going down and finishing with some points, especially last game.”
Chase Claypool praised Kenny Pickett and his improvements over camp on Wednesday. The receiver also said about Trubisky.
“Mitch has done nothing but a great job,” Claypool said. “I’m excited to see how he keeps pushing that along forward. He’s a good, funny dude off the field, so anything he says in the huddle-like ‘hey, I need you to get here’ or ‘keep it up’. It’s your boy talking to you, so we are going to take it seriously.”
“I’ve done a lot of great things so far,” Trubisky said. “I feel really comfortable with where I’m at and how I’m throwing the football and how I’m learning the playbook and going through my reads so far.”
Trubisky hopes to get some more reps on Sunday against Detroit. He says he’s just trying to establish a rhythm with the offense. It’s all about getting better and really the goal for him is for the offense to improve.
He has 57 games of NFL experience including 29 wins in 50 starts, completing 64% of his passes for 64 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He’s obviously got the experience over Pickett and he thinks that should count in this decision.
“It’s your whole body of work, everything I’ve done in my career up to this point what I’ve done in mini-camp,” Trubisky said. “The practices at Latrobe, in the preseason games, it wasn’t the best showing last week as a unit and for myself. All you can do is control today and get better from there. That’s all I’m trying to do and have a great week.”