Steelers' Kenny Pickett Nearly Was Benched Following Brutal Loss To Browns; Decided To Fire Matt Canada Instead

The Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves on the brink of benching starting quarterback Kenny Pickett following their distressing 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns. This revelation comes from a reliable Steelers insider, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who shed light on the internal debate within the Steelers' coaching staff. Although the discussion briefly centered around benching Pickett, the team ultimately chose a different path, opting to part ways with Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada. 

Pickett's Struggles Leading The Steelers Offense

Prior to the Browns game, Pickett had been facing a series of challenges. Over the course of three games leading up to the Cleveland matchup, his performance had been lackluster. He struggled to move the offense down the field, posting passing yardage totals of 160 yards against the Tennessee Titans, 126 yards against the Green Bay Packers, and a disappointing 106 yards against the Browns. These underwhelming performances left the Steelers' coaching staff deeply concerned about the direction of their offense.

The Browns loss, coupled with the offensive struggles, proved to be the tipping point for the Steelers. Following the dismal offensive showing, the team made a historic decision by parting ways with Canada. Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan were appointed as interim offensive coordinator and play caller, respectively, to steer the offense in a new direction. Dulac revealed on the DVE Morning Show that there were indeed discussions about benching Pickett but, ultimately, the organization chose a different route.

"After the Cleveland game, there was some discussion that maybe a change needed to be made at the position because of the way Pickett had been struggling for those three games, right up until the mess in Cleveland."

That makes it seem like the organization and coaching staff may already be closer than anyone on the outside realizes to moving on from Pickett as a whole. That's a scary thought.

Pickett's Redemption A Spark of Hope

Following Canada's departure, Pickett seemed to find his footing. He posted one of his best performances of the 2023 season, accumulating an impressive 278 passing yards against a mediocre Cincinnati Bengals defense. This sudden turnaround raised questions about whether the change in offensive leadership played a significant role in Pickett's improved performance.

"Now, of course, that all changed with the performance in Cincinnati, but it had been discussed. Obviously, they would like to see how he would’ve performed maybe without Matt Canada. We saw one good game; the second game looked just like he always did," Dulac observed.

Fate Plays A Hand

In his second game without Canada against the Arizona Cardinals, Pickett displayed early promise, completing 70% of his passes for 70 yards before suffering an ankle injury that forced him to undergo surgery on Monday morning. This unfortunate injury further complicated the Steelers' quarterback situation.

Steelers' Tomlin's Endorses Sticking With Pickett

During his Week 12 press conference leading up to the Bengals game, Steelers' Head Coach Mike Tomlin was questioned about his decision to continue with Pickett as the starting quarterback after Canada's dismissal. Tomlin expressed unwavering support for Pickett, citing his dedication, work ethic, and potential for growth.

"Because I work with him every day. I’ve been really transparent with you guys about him and his willingness to work and my experience and what that tells me. This guy will do any and everything. He works extremely hard. Just saw him a few minutes ago in the building. There’s such a thing as football justice, man. Those guys usually get what they’re looking for. And so that’s why I remain consistently optimistic about the trajectory of his growth and development," Tomlin explained.

While Tomlin's public endorsement of Pickett may seem at odds with Dulac's claims about the Steelers' contemplation of benching their quarterback, it is possible that Tomlin's statements were intended to keep team matters confidential and boost Pickett's confidence during a challenging period.

With Pickett sidelined due to the ankle surgery, the Steelers now face the intriguing prospect of seeing how their season would have unfolded if they had indeed benched him and turned to veteran quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky's performance in relief of Pickett against the Cardinals showcased his arm talent and ability to make deep throws, but his challenge remains in consistently delivering accurate passes to open receivers and avoiding costly interceptions. Trubisky finished the game completing 64.7% of his passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. 

As the Steelers navigate the challenges of the NFL, including injuries and internal debates, they find themselves at a crossroads. The decision to stick with Pickett, despite the internal discussions, has left fans and pundits alike curious about the path this team will take in the remainder of the season when Pickett returns from his ankle injury.

In this ever-evolving narrative, one thing is clear, the Steelers are facing a season filled with uncertainties and unexpected turns. All eyes will turn to Trubisky as he fights to redeem his team's embarrassing 24-10 loss on Sunday against the New England Patriots on Thursday night.

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