Steelers' Mitch Trubisky Wants To Be An Aggressive 'Catalyst' For Change On The Offense

Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback, Mitch Trubisky will get the start in Week 14 against the New England Patriots at Acrisure Stadium. Trubisky came in just before the first half ended during the disastrous loss to the Arizona Cardinals during Week 13 after starting quarterback Kenny Pickett left the game with a high ankle sprain. Trubisky was not able to help the Steelers come back and win the game, but he told the press on Tuesday that he wants that to change in the next game. 

According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers reporter, Brian Batko, Trubisky is going in with a different mindset this week. Trubisky is known for being more assertive, and for taking more shots downfield than Pickett and it sounds like he plans to do just that.

"Mitch Trubisky says he's trying to be aggressive and move the offense down the field. Knows he needs to take care of the ball but wants to be that 'catalyst,'" wrote Batko.

During the just over two quarters he played against the Cardinals, we didn't see much of that "aggressive" Trubisky. He went 11/17 with one late touchdown and a total of 117 passing yards. His quarterback rating was a mediocre 48.5. But it wasn't just Trubisky that was an issue, pretty much the entire team played poorly. Center Mason Cole had one low snap after another that cost the team on numerous occasions throughout the game.

The team also had nine penalties, including a pass interference call on Joey Porter Jr. that set up a touchdown for the Cardinals. Another involved a contact with the kicker penalty on stalwart veteran Miles Killebrew that hurt the field position battle. Almost worse than the huge penalties were the ones that point to the team's lack of focus, like the pre-snap formation penalties on the offense. This isn't Week 1, these players know each other and the plays as well. There is no excuse for those silly mistakes. 

Steelers' Mitch Trubisky Will Get Another Shot At Starting

When the Steelers signed Trubisky before the 2022 season, it was the intention to have him start and have Pickett develop behind him. Unfortunately, Trubisky underdelivered and was benched halfway through the Week 4 game last season and replaced by Pickett who was then a rookie. During the three-and-a-half games he played at the beginning of the 2022 season before being benched, he completed 69 of 166 attempted passes for 653 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.   

After coming into the Cardinals' game, the Steelers saw a further drop off in offensive production over the already mediocre play by Pickett. This has fans and the media concerned about the fate of the team while we wait for Pickett to return. There are even folks who think they should consider starting third-string quarterback, Mason Rudolph. 

This is Pickett's sixth game-exiting injury and every time he has been hurt, it has been Trubisky who has come in. While it is fair to say that Rudolph has been with the team a long time and knows the system better than Trubisky, it is also fair to wonder why he isn't the backup instead. He served as backup to Ben Roethlisberger for many years and while he was serviceable when needed, he struggled to lead the team consistently for any length of time. 

Trubisky has had a rocky NFL career, but has a lot more on-field experience than Rudolph. The two were drafted one year apart, Trubisky in the first round in 2017 and Rudolph in the third round in 2018. Headed into the Week 14 game, Trubisky has played 67 games to Rudolph's 17. The two have close completion percentages, Rudolph 61.5% and Trubisky 64.1%, but Trubisky has a better career passer rating of 86.0, while Rudolph's is 80.9. 

While the stats might make it seem close, there is one major difference between the two, and that is Trubisky is far more mobile than Rudolph. Trubisky will need to revert to his former Pro Bowl-level self for the next few weeks. He has to see this as his big opportunity. Every other time Pickett has been injured, it was clear the Steelers were going to go straight back to him when he returned, however, this time it is a bit murky. 

While Head Coach Mike Tomlin would never admit it at this juncture, if Trubisky knocks our socks off, he will be hard-pressed to bench him even when Pickett returns. Pickett's play this season has been so inconsistent that it doesn't seem farfetched that Trubisky could earn his old spot back. Literally, the ball is in Trubisky's court right now. He has at least a few games to prove to the world, and more importantly, his teammates, that he can lead this team into a postseason run.  

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