PITTSBURGH — It doesn’t matter if the Kenny Pickett era has dawned sooner than Mike Tomlin and even Mitch Trubisky expected. Or if it comes after a three-game losing streak as the Steelers head into the toughest four-game stretch of the schedule.
It is here, and there is really no turning back.
“Hopefully that’s a catalyst for us as we try to change the outcome of some of these games,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin made the switch to Pickett official when he listed the rookie quarterback from Pitt as the starter on the team’s depth chart that was released Tuesday morning. He later confirmed the move during his weekly press conference.
“In an effort to be better and score more points, we decided to go to Kenny in the hopes he will provide a spark for us,” Tomlin said. “We felt that, not only in terms of our ability to move the ball, but in terms of energy.”
Pickett was able to do that in Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets when he replaced Trubisky at the start of the second half and quickly flipped a 10-6 deficit into a 20-10 advantage. But that only lasted until an ill-timed interception with 3 1/2 minutes remaining led to the Jets’ winning touchdown with 16 seconds remaining.
Now he will make his first NFL start on Sunday in Buffalo against the Bills (3-1), coincidentally the team for whom Trubisky played in 2021.
“We have no reservations about what Kenny is going to be capable of in terms of our schematics,” Tomlin said. “We have a level of concern about the environment we’re taking him into, but you have a level of concern about any quarterback you take into that environment against that defense and that venue.”
Trubisky was not happy about being yanked at halftime from a four-point game in which his only interception came when Diontae Johnson had a pass skip off both hands. He said the decision to be benched after 3 1/2 games was not what he expected after he signed a $14.5 million contract in free agency.
Tomlin said Trubisky’s performance — he was 7 of 13 for 84 yards — wasn’t the only reason for the quarterback switch, saying he didn’t want to “dump” all the blame for his offense’s lethargy “at Mitch’s feet.” He said Trubisky reacted “the way you would expect” when he told him Pickett would be the starter against the Bills, his former team.
“There’s disappointment,” Tomlin said. “He’s a competitor, he’s a professional, he’s a hard and diligent worker, he wants to be a positive contributor to our efforts and a reason why we’re successful. The change doesn’t afford him the opportunity to do those things. We respect that, in the same way we respect some of the things Mason Rudolph has gone through in this process.”
Tomlin admitted he gave some thought to coming back to Trubisky as the starter in Buffalo, where he served as the backup to quarterback Josh Allen.
“We’re sensitive to the situation Mitch is in, but at the same time, we have a game to prepare for and ready Kenny,” Tomlin said. “I’m sure Mitch is going to be a professional. He has been a part of that program. I’m sure he’ll be a part of our readiness and be a big help to Kenny.”
NFL coaches typically don’t have a rookie quarterback make his NFL debut at halftime, unless there is an injury. But Tomlin did, even though five days earlier he told his players to “shut out the noise” about the clamor for Pickett, show “steely resolve” in the face of adversity and remain “committed to the plan” of sticking with Trubisky.
Tomlin said there was no one play or incident that led to the halftime decision to insert Pickett, the team’s No. 1 draft choice.
“I don’t know if it’s any one particular thing,” Tomlin said. “It’s how I felt and how we felt in-game. We’ve also talked about when you’re there, how do you know when you’re there? And you just kind of know when you’re there. And that’s probably the perspective I had on the decision.”
Pickett rallied the Steelers in front when he became the first rookie quarterback in league history to run for two touchdowns in his NFL debut. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 120 yards, but all three of his incompletions were interceptions, including the costly one that led to the winning touchdown in the waning seconds.
For better or worse, the Steelers will live with Pickett’s heroics and mistakes the rest of the way.
“The things we valued in him — fluid, quick decision making, pro-like anticipation — have proven to be true,” Tomlin said. “That’s why we took him when given the opportunity to do so. Since we acquired him, he’s done nothing but fortify that thought process.”
