The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally made the decision to start their 2022 first-round pick, Kenny Pickett, going into Week 5. Pickett will be making his debut as the team’s starter on the road, against an AFC powerhouse in the Buffalo Bills. Like many others that have come before, Pickett will have an arduous journey ahead of him in preparation for his first game as QB1. Before he takes the field on Sunday, let’s look back at how other quarterbacks for the black and gold faired in their debut.
Ben Roethlisberger
Steelers Ben Roethlisberger (#7) lines up under center in his first NFL start against the Miami Dolphins on September 26, 2004. | Credit: steelers.com
For the first quarterback on our list, we’re traveling back to the year 2004 when Ben Roethlisberger became the official starter for a Week 3 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The initial starter for the season, Tommy Maddox, was injured in the previous game. During this time, Florida was being hit hard by Hurricane Jeanne. This meant that both teams had to deal with the deluge of rain, causing the playing surface to become a large muddy swamp. Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward commented on the conditions.
"That was the worst weather I ever played in," Ward noted.
Roethlisberger’s first pass of the game ended up getting picked off, however, he would make up for it later. Toward the end of the game, the Steelers were holding onto a slim 6-3 lead. Roethlisberger would complete a pass to Ward for seven yards and the game-sealing touchdown. Roethlisberger, who finished the game with 163 passing yards completing 12 of his 22 attempts, discussed his experience post-game.
"It wasn't pretty at times, but we got the win," the quarterback said.
All in all, it was a win for Pittsburgh and would be the first of many victories with number seven leading the way.
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart drops back to pass / Credit: SteelersNow.com
This next player is a special case. Kordell Stewart was originally drafted as a quarterback in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft. However, Stewart didn’t make his initial debut in that position. To clarify, at the time, the Steelers' starting quarterback was Mike Tomczak, so Stewart wouldn’t be QB1 right away. In fact, he wouldn’t play in the first five games of the 1995 season but would contribute to the scout team by lining up as a wide receiver to run routes. When he wasn’t doing that, he’d also return kicks. And even though it wasn’t at quarterback, Stewart did make his debut later that season.
With many players at the receiver position going down due to injury, Head Coach Bill Cowher called upon Stewart to show off some of his versatility. Stewart not only played wide receiver but also running back while still being listed as a backup quarterback. His unique ability to play multiple positions earned him the nickname ”Slash”. Stewart would stay in this hybrid role until he became the official QB1 in 1997.
Unfortunately for Stewart, his first start under center wasn’t that great of an outing. The Week 1 contest was at home against the Dallas Cowboys and most Steelers fans would like to leave that game in the rear-view mirror. Stewart had just 104 yards through the air with only one touchdown and one interception as Pittsburgh was blown out 37-7.
Stewart wouldn’t let this game get him down as he managed to get the team to an 11-5 overall record, leading them to the AFC Championship game. Sadly, they would be defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Denver Broncos. If we can take away anything from this, it’s that it’s not about how you start after your debut, but it’s how you finish.
Possible Expectations For Pickett
Credit: JSKO Photography / Jordan Schofield
We all know how Pickett performed last Sunday in just one half of play, completing 10 of 13 passes with three interceptions and two rushing scores. This Sunday will be a completely different experience. Pickett will be starting in a hostile environment with a good Buffalo defense that, at times, may make him uncomfortable. He might make those “rookie mistakes” that many young players make on their first time out. So, what should we expect?
You can count on Pickett to try and get down the field and make big plays often. You can expect some more interceptions and perhaps a few sacks because of some decisions that will/won’t be made. You should NOT expect him to be like either Roethlisberger or Stewart in their debut game. Overall, expect a young man to do his best to bring the team victory and learn a great deal in the process.
What are your expectations for Kenny Pickett’s first start? Let us know in the comments.
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