Pittsburgh Steelers

It appears Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett will start Saturday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders after clearing concussion protocol, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

In the first quarter of a Week 14 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Pickett was sacked by Roquan Smith and was slow to get up. He walked off the field and went into the medical tent for further evaluation before being cleared to return.

He missed the Week 15 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

The 2022 first-round pick out of Pitt did not take over as the Steelers' starting QB until Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills, after beginning the year as backup to Mitchell Trubisky.

In 10 games this season, Pickett has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,797 yards and four touchdowns against eight interceptions. He has also rushed for 225 yards and three scores.

The Steelers are 6-8 overall and 4-5 in games Pickett starts.

If he misses any more time, the Steelers would turn back to Trubisky to lead the offense. The former Chicago Bears quarterback is 2-3 as a starter this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly expected to start Mitch Trubisky at quarterback in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Steelers rookie starting quarterback Kenny Pickett was still in concussion protocol and doubtful for Sunday's game, necessitating the move to Trubisky. ESPN's Brooke Pryor later followed up with news that the Steelers had officially ruled Pickett out for the game.

Trubisky and Mason Rudolph reportedly split first-team snaps at practice this week, but rather than Rudolph getting his first start of the season, Trubisky is in line to earn his fifth.

After Pickett was knocked out of last week's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a concussion, Trubisky completed 22 of his 30 passes for 276 yards, which was his highest yardage total in a game this season.

He threw only one touchdown compared to three interceptions, however, playing a role in Pittsburgh's 16-14 loss.

Trubisky, who spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears and one as Josh Allen's backup with the Buffalo Bills, signed a two-year, $14.3 million deal with the Steelers during the offseason.

Pittsburgh later selected Pickett with the No. 20 pick in the 2022 draft, and the hope was Trubisky would bridge the gap until Pickett was ready.

Instead, Trubisky struggled out of the gates, going 1-3 as a starter over the first four weeks of the season before losing the starting job to Pickett.

In four starts and six appearances this season, Trubisky has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 1,073 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Trubisky was the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft, and while he led the Bears to the playoffs in 2018 and 2020, he hasn't come close to living up to expectations.

While the 24-year-old Pickett is younger and potentially has a bright future, he hasn't been much better by comparison.

Pickett is 4-5 as a starter and has completed 65.0 percent of his passes for 1,797 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has done far more damage with his legs, though, rushing for 225 yards and three scores.

The Steelers are just 5-8, and they likely need to win out to have even the slightest chance of reaching the playoffs for a third consecutive year.

Given that the Steelers have no margin for error, head coach Mike Tomlin may have a quick hook on Trubisky in favor of Rudolph against Carolina.

Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Diontae Johnson wants to see Mason Rudolph get a chance to be the starting quarterback if rookie Kenny Pickett is unable to play on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers

"Yeah, I want to see him play," Johnson told reporters. "I know he's ready to play. I know it's probably in the back of his mind like, 'Dang, when I'm going get my chance?' I feel like this week is it for him. I know he's going to do everything it takes to be prepared this week, get ready for Sunday."

Pickett's status is up in the air after being put in the concussion protocol last week for the second time this season.

Mitchell Trubisky started the season as Pittsburgh's starter and has served as Pickett's backup since the rookie was elevated to the starting role. But Johnson clearly wants to see Rudolph—who has been inactive every week this season—get his shot, although he indicated he'll adjust to whoever it is playing.

"Whoever's at quarterback, they have got to be prepared as well," he told reporters. "They've got to be on their stuff just like me. I'll make sure I talk to [Pickett] to see if he's cool or whatnot. But no matter who it is, I'm going to be ready. Don't matter who's throwing the balls, as long as you're making the play on the ball at the end of the day."

Rudolph, 27, started all of two games for the Steelers in the 2020-21 seasons as Ben Roethlisberger's backup after being given an extended look in 2019. He offered mixed results that year, throwing for 1,765 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight starts (10 total appearances), completing 62.2 percent of his passes while taking 15 sacks. The Steelers went 5-3 in those starts.

The Steelers as a team have had mixed results this season, going just 5-8. Trubisky was just 1-3 as the starter before losing the position, while Pickett has led the team to a 4-5 mark.

Neither has played particularly well, though Pickett has the caveat of being a rookie.

Trubisky has thrown for 1,073 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63.3 percent of his passes and taking 10 sacks. Pickett has gone for 1,797 yards, four scores and eight picks while completing 65 percent of his passes and taking 23 sacks.

As for Johnson's preference for Rudolph over Trubisky, that may partially stem from an October dust-up between the two men during a game against the New York Jets, when Johnson reportedly told the quarterback at halftime that he wanted more targets.

Johnson said in October that the situation was resolved, and added Thursday that he believes Rudolph has proven in practice that he's earned a chance to play again if Pickett can't go.

"He's been doing a great job just staying solid through everything and continuing to get better every day," he said. "You see at practice, he's locked in, he's making those throws, continuously showing that he knows what he's doing, making the right throws here and there, getting everybody lined up right. I like that."