Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett made his fifth career start on Sunday. It was the first time he led the team to victory, as Mitch Trubisky finished out the team’s Week 6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Things didn’t exactly go smoothly for the rookie, though. It was more of the same from Pickett against the New Orleans Saints defense.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
He continues to not see the field well, something probably expected out of a rookie. On Sunday, he missed several open receivers, raising a concern with his accuracy. Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review weighed in on the University of Pittsburgh product’s recent performances:
“Right now, I think he stinks," Madden said in his weekly 'Madden Monday' podcast. "I haven’t seen him make any discernible progress since he got in that Jets game.”
This is a sentiment that is seemingly being echoed by a majority of Steelers fans. Early in the season, they were calling for Trubisky’s job. While they aren’t doing the same with the 2022 first-rounder yet, fans are growing a tad impatient. Every quarterback develops differently, and not every one becomes a star right away.
Omar Khan is introduced as the Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager at a press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Friday, May 27, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Some of the criticism for Pickett is warranted. Actually, most of it is. It’s okay to admit that the rookie quarterback isn’t playing well right now. With that being said, this guy has still played just four full games. He’s continuing to learn and adapt to NFL defenses. There shouldn't be any concern or panic at this point. This is a season meant for this specifically: letting Pickett continue to grow. It's a season in which (hopefully) GM Omar Khan will be able to decipher if this guy can be their future at QB.
In the team’s third win of the season on Sunday, Pickett went 18/30 for 199 yards and a rushing touchdown. The offensive line had their fair share of struggles as well, as Pickett was sacked six times. On the encouraging side of things, the rookie QB utilized his legs quite well. He ran eight times for 51 yards, including the touchdown in the fourth quarter that made it a two-possession game. Additionally, he didn't turn the ball over at all.
The only other game that he had zero turnovers was against the Buccaneers, although he didn't finish that game due to a concussion. Essentially, this was his first full game in which he ended without an interception or fumble. On the season now, in five starts, he has two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and eight interceptions. While his 66.7% completion rate seems solid, his 193.5 passing yards per game is nothing to scoff at. For now, there shouldn't be panic about Pickett.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
What were your thoughts on the rookie's performance on Sunday? Are you convinced that he is (or isn't) the team's long-term QB? What else did you think about the team's win over the Saints? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below, yinz!
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