New Steelers OC Arthur Smith talked up QB Kenny Pickett a little in his first interview since taking the job. "It's exciting to hear the way that this offense is built with a lot of young players and, obviously, where Kenny Pickett is at going into his third year," Smith said to Missi Matthews of Steelers.com. "There's a relationship that's got to be built between me and Kenny, and that's so paramount between the playcaller and the quarterback. I've got to earn Kenny's trust and vice versa as we build this offense and all the things we want to work on, and we want him to work on and take command of this offense." Does this mean Pickett is guaranteed to start Week 1 in 2024? Of course not. HC Mike Tomlin told reporters in January that Pickett heads into the offseason as the top QB but "will be challenged." Until and unless Pittsburgh acquires a significant challenger, though, Pickett is the likeliest 2024 starter. Early best ball drafting has him going outside the top 32 at the position on both Underdog and FFPC. That makes Pickett worth a look as your QB3, especially if you've drafted a Steelers pass-catcher or two.
The Steelers-Bills game originally scheduled for 1 pm ET on Sunday has been moved to 4:30 pm ET on Monday. Buffalo is expecting heavy snow and wind gusts up to 60 mph on Sunday. The forecast for Monday calls for light snow, sustained winds around 15 mph, and gusts up to 30 mph. That's still tough weather for the passing and kicking games -- but significantly better than it would have been on Sunday. We're adjusting our projections for this game.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that QB Mason Rudolph is "scheduled" to start in Week 17 He added that the team will see where QB Kenny Pickett's mobility is at the end of the week. So it sounds like Pickett has a chance to return but that the team isn't expecting him to be ready. Rudolph threw for 290 yards and 2 TDs Saturday in his first start of the season. Pittsburgh will visit Seattle this Sunday. We'll bet on Rudolph falling short of his Week 16 numbers, but the Seahawks present a similarly generous defense. They rank 24th in total DVOA, 24th against the pass, and 22nd against the run.
Steelers WR George Pickens hauled in 4 of 6 targets for 195 receiving yards and 2 TDs vs. the Bengals in Week 16. His yardage in Saturday’s contest ranks as the third-highest single-game total in 2023 to date and also marks the fourth time this season that Pickens has exceeded 100 receiving yards. The second-year wideout has struggled to find consistency all season, though it’s possible he and QB Mason Rudolph will be able to build upon their newfound rapport in Week 17 vs. the Seahawks (13th-best WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed). Pickens will be worth considering as a WR3/flex option.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Thursday afternoon that Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (ankle) has been officially ruled out for Week 16 vs. the Bengals. Although Pickett had been able to log limited practice participation on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was widely anticipated that he would not make his return this week. HC Mike Tomlin had already named Mason Rudolph as the team's starter for Saturday several days ago, which lines up with our projections. Unless you are in desperation mode, it's best to leave Rudolph out of fantasy lineups. See where he lands in our current QB rankings.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (ankle) got in a limited practice on Tuesday. HC Mike Tomlin named QB Mason Rudolph the Week 16 starter on Monday but also didn't rule out Pickett being able to return. We'll keep an eye on his progress over the next few days, but hopefully you're not invested in this situation in fantasy lineups.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said Monday that QB Mason Rudolph will start Saturday's game against the Bengals. Actually, he said, "As I stand here today, Mason Rudolph is the guy with the ball," according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Tomlin also didn't rule out QB Kenny Pickett being ready to return. Tomlin said that Pickett would not only need medical clearance following surgery for his high-ankle sprain but also need to show he can protect himself and "be sharp," according to Dale Lolley of Steelers.com. We'll keep an eye on the situation throughout the week, but there's not a whole lot of fantasy value to squeeze from this pass offense either way. Here's hoping you have better lineup options at QB, WR, and TE for Week 16.
Steelers QB Mitchell Trubisky will start today's game vs. the Panthers but will be on a "short leash," according to NFL Network. Trubisky and QB Mason Rudolph reportedly split reps in practice this week -- and it sounds like we'll see Rudolph today if Trubisky struggles. Trubisky tossed 3 INTs in relief of QB Kenny Pickett last weekend and has 5 total INTs vs. just 4 TDs this season. This is obviously a situation to avoid in Week 15 fantasy lineups.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game vs. the Panthers. He was limited in practice this week, but the team evidently doesn't expect him to be cleared by Sunday. QBs Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph reportedly split reps in practice this week, and HC Mike Tomlin declined to name a starter on Friday. You, of course, shouldn't be messing with the situation in Week 15 fantasy lineups.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (concussion) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. That gives him a shot to be cleared in time for Sunday's game vs. the Panthers. QBs Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph reportedly split reps in Wednesday's practice, so it's unclear who will start this weekend if Pickett can't.
The Steelers' Week 1 QB depth chart reads: Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett. HC Mike Tomlin hasn't announced his Week 1 starter, but it sure looks like it'll be Trubisky under center vs. Cincinnati. We're still expecting to see Pickett make multiple starts this season.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin announced Friday that QB Mitchell Trubisky will start the preseason finale. He did not specify how much each QB will play in the game. This doesn't necessarily mean Trubisky will open the regular season as starter. But it would seem to make sense for the team to get a look at Kenny Pickett to open the game if it planned to put him behind center in Week 1. We're certainly betting on the 1st-round rookie taking over at some point this season, and we'll see about the Week 1 plan. Signs points to Pittsburgh opening with the vet, though.
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.
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.
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