Steelers QB2 Mitch Trubisky Using Veteran Knowledge To Help Kenny Pickett Ahead Of Massive Divisional Game

It was an offseason full of hype for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett. The front office reloaded some talent around him, and he showed improvements throughout the summer. After a flawless preseason, those expectations only grew. Unfortunately, all of that came to a screeching halt in Week 1. Pickett had to face the elite San Francisco 49ers defense, and while they did their job, the quarterback missed plenty of throws himself.

It was a performance that left a lot to be desired, and he admitted his faults when speaking to the media. As a result, Pickett and the offense are “anxious” to get back onto the field for Monday Night Football. Veteran backup Mitch Trubisky is someone that is helping Pickett with his response in Week 2. Via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, Trubisky knows what it feels like.

"It stinks, I know, trust me. Stay the course and don’t overreact. Fix the things we can fix. Everything is fixable. We go out there and make a couple of plays in the first half and things go differently. That’s football. Once you get on that downhill slide against a really good team, it is tough. You go back to work.”

Fixable. That's the important part of Pickett's disappointing Week 1 showing. It wasn't that the defense was too good or anything, but Pickett simply missed throws that he typically makes. While that's disappointing in its own right, the Steelers know their quarterback can and will bounce back from the poor outing. Trubisky started the first four games of the 2022 season before Pickett took over at halftime of the New York Jets game. 

From there, the Pittsburgh product took over the job. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Trubisky would be on his way out of town this offseason, but that didn’t end up being the case. In fact, he signed a two-year contract extension. One major factor in that decision? He had developed a close relationship with Pickett in the quarterback room. For the Steelers, it was beneficial being able to keep a veteran (or two) behind their presumed franchise guy. 

"You can’t change a lot during the season or a week. We try not to fall into that trap and overanalyze everything. You have to trust your instincts and play. There are going to be some bumps in the road, and I told him that. That’s part of the NFL, part of being a young quarterback. We got his back and we are all here for him. It can change week to week, and we expect it to change this week. Sometimes a guy needs to hear that," Trubisky said via Kaboly.

Again, it wasn't a pretty opening performance by Pickett by any means. Despite completing 67.4% of his 46 passes, he left a lot of meat on the bone. With Diontae Johnson out for the near future, things won't get any easier either. To make matters more difficult, the Steelers will have to face an impressive Cleveland Browns defense in Week 2. Under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the Browns defense was stifling in their season opener.

How Should Steelers Attack Browns Defense In Week 2?

The Browns held Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals to 82 passing yards and just three points. Pickett and the Steelers do get the benefit of playing at home in primetime. The franchise has dominated in these environments in the past, but the Acrisure Stadium advantage didn't matter in Week 1. This time around, it will be important for Pickett to keep the crowd in it with some early points. With Trubisky by his side, it should help make things a little bit easier.

How do you think/expect Pickett to respond in Week 2? Were you surprised when the Steelers extended Trubisky this offseason? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites!

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