Kenny Pickett Full Participant in Practice, ‘Looks Good’
PITTSBURGH — All signs point to Kenny Pickett being the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football.
Pickett, who the team announced suffered a concussion in the third quarter of Sunday’s Week 6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, and got a vote of confidence from one of his top targets.
“He looked good,” wide receiver Diontae Johnson said. “He didn’t look like anything was wrong with him. He looked locked in, ready to go for this week. Just normal Kenny out there brining the same energy he brings ever day.”
Johnson said that he’s expecting Pickett to start on Sunday, which head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he would as long as he’s cleared to play.
Pickett replaced Mitch Trubisky at halftime of the Steelers’ Week 4 home game against the New York Jets, played all of the Week 5 game at Buffalo and then started the Week 6 game before leaving three-quarters of the way through with an injury.
Trubisky replaced him against the Buccaneers and played well, completing 9 of 12 for 144 yards and a touchdown, but Tomlin said the didn’t give any thought to going right back to his rookie, as long as Pickett is cleared to play.
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In three games, Pickett is 55 of 83 for 514 yards, with one touchdown and four interceptions. The No. 20 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has a 67 passer rating and a 38.1 QBR.
Trubisky’s strong fourth quarter against the Bucs has lifted his season-long stats into a near heat with Pickett’s. In his five games, he’s 78 of 128 for 797 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, with an 80.1 passer rating and a 48.3 QBR.
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