Eagles Had Extra Motivation to Beat Steelers for Kenny Pickett: ‘He’s a Great Dude’
Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay Jr. revealed on his Big Play Slay podcast that the Eagles had a little extra motivated to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday because of Kenny Pickett, who had a tumultuous exit from the Steel City.
The Eagles accomplished that feat, as they routed the Steelers, 27-13, at Lincoln Financial Field. The Steelers finished with 163 yards against the Eagles, their fewest since they had 127 in a 19-11 victory against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 19, 2010. They also possessed the ball for just 20:08 and had just two possessions in the second half.
“We were playing for our quarterback,” Slay said. “Not [Jalen] Hurts. We’re talking about Kenny Pickett. He’s a great dude. Without Kenny Pickett, I think our defense — I don’t want to say wouldn’t be great because we want to be great regardless — but Kenny (is) giving us a great look on scout team. We did that for you too, Kenny. Shout out to my boy, Kenny, for helping us prepare for this week, giving us tips about what to look for because he’s been in that room with them.”
Things didn’t go well for Pickett on many levels during his two seasons as the Steelers quarterback. The most glaring problem was his inability to put the ball into the end zone. His 13 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 25 career games is the lowest touchdown percentage in NFL history (1.8%, minimum 500 pass attempts).
In March, Pickett requested a trade following the signing of Russell Wilson. The Steelers obliged and sent the 2022 first-round pick cross-state to the Eagles.
Pickett’s reputation in Pittsburgh took a big hit, as many in the fanbase thought he showcased diva-like characteristics for not wanting to compete with Wilson for the starting quarterback spot. On the flip side, while not the majority, there’s a portion of the fanbase that believe the Steelers mistreated Pickett and betrayed him.
Pickett caught up with a slew of Steelers before Sunday’s game, so he has no hard feelings toward the organization. He spoke with tight end Pat Freiermuth, wide receiver Calvin Austin III, kicker Chris Boswell, long snapper Christian Kuntz, senior offensive assistant Mike Sullivan, special teams coordinator Danny Smith and head coach Mike Tomlin.
“It was definitely a little weird,” Pickett told Johhny McGonigal of PennLive, when asked about facing the Steelers. “But life goes on. I’m enjoying it here. Got a bunch of family close by, so it’s been good.”
Pickett has barely played this season, attempting just three passes, but he’s learning under starter Jalen Hurts. It also appears he’s well-liked in the Eagles’ locker room. Perhaps Pickett can use his time in Philly as a stepping stone to wherever he lands next.
The Eagles (12-2) are one of the favorites in the NFC to play in this year’s Super Bowl.
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