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PITTSBURGH — The Kenny Pickett period is formally right here.
The Pittsburgh Steelers listed their 2022 first-round decide because the starter on the depth chart for Sunday’s sport on the Buffalo Payments.
Pickett is the primary rookie quarterback to begin for the group since undrafted free agent Devlin Hodges began in Week 4 of the 2019 season in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Looking for a spark, Mike Tomlin inserted Pickett to switch Mitch Trubisky at halftime of the Steelers’ 24-20 loss to the New York Jets. Pickett responded by finishing 10 of 13 makes an attempt for 120 yards with three interceptions and two dashing touchdowns.
“With Kenny in there, we had been capable of be the aggressor,” tight finish Pat Freiermuth stated Monday. “Clearly, some errors are gonna occur, some tipped balls and all that form of stuff, however we’ve to proceed to work previous that and be there for Kenny, particularly since he is a younger man.”
In his common season debut, Pickett averaged 9.2 yards per try and 13.2 air yards per try, properly over Trubisky’s season common of 5.6 yards per try and 9.9 air yards per try.
Previous to coming into Sunday’s sport, Pickett hadn’t labored with the primary group offense because the preseason, however the Pitt product impressed his teammates along with his calm, assured demeanor within the huddle and perspective on the sector. Maybe his most spectacular throw got here as he accomplished an 18-yard go to Freiermuth over the center on third-and-long as Jets defensive deal with Quinnen Williams flew unblocked towards him. Pickett received the throw off with stress in his face and smiled at Williams as he received up from the sector.
“He performed with swagger,” huge receiver Diontae Johnson stated. “When he comes within the huddle, he calls for like, ‘huddle up, are available in, hear.’ Everyone respects him. He is an ideal participant, and he is younger, he will proceed to study and develop. It is our job to make him look good and assist him keep comfy whereas he is on the market.”
Pickett, 24, was the primary first-round quarterback chosen by the Steelers because the group picked Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.
The Steelers (1-3) drafted Pickett twentieth total with the intention of ultimately making him the franchise quarterback, however he entered the preseason because the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart behind Trubisky — who was signed in free company – and longtime backup Mason Rudolph.
Pickett struggled within the early weeks of camp, however hit his stride within the first preseason sport when he accomplished 13 of 15 makes an attempt for 95 yards with two touchdowns — together with a game-winning drive in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks. He completed the preseason with an 80.6 completion proportion and averaged 7.3 yards per try.
The Steelers, although, had been resolute in beginning Trubisky due to his veteran expertise and management, and the group even voted him a captain.
Trubisky and the offense struggled by means of the primary three and a half weeks, and their offensive output hovered close to the underside of the league as they averaged 18 factors per sport.
Although Tomlin preached endurance and pointed to encouraging indicators of offensive enchancment after the Thursday night time loss to the Steelers, finally he opted to insert his rookie at halftime of Week 4, and now, he is sticking with him.
“I feel [I have] slightly little bit of an edge to me,” Pickett stated. “I would like that to rub off on everyone. I would like us to have an perspective when it is on the market on the sector. I am excited to get again to work, get us again on observe.”
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