Kenny Pickett, Steelers Offense to Get Longer Look vs. Bills

UNITY TWP., Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers gave the world a small taste of what its 2023 offense with Kenny Pickett will look like in preseason Week 1.

The expectation is for them to deliver a full serving in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said in his pregame press conference on Thursday that once again, he expects his entire first-team offense to play and play more than it did the first time around this week at Acrisure Stadium.

Tomlin declined to commit to a specific timeframe for how much Pickett and the starters will play.

“We’ll play it by ear,” he said. “I’d be lying if I gave you a direct answer.”

Pickett has been smoothly rolling through his first preseason as the Steelers’ cemented first-team starting quarterback, and Tomlin was complimentary of the way that the second-year Pitt alum has carried himself throughout the training camp process.

“I just like the way that he’s communicating with people,” Tomlin said. “I like that he comes every day ready to compete. He’s not over-analyzing the big picture too much. He’s just trying to play his role in the creation of a great day and be in there.

“I think other people, by virtue of his position, get their vibe off that. His ability to remain singularly focused and hyper competitive, I think, is an asset to our unit and our team.”

That first taste certainly looked promising. In the first preseason game, Pickett directed a 10-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to George Pickens that sparked confidence in significant improvement from the unit that finished 26th in scoring a year ago.

RELATED: Kenny Pickett Shines, Notches TD in First Preseason Drive

This time around, they’ll get to face first-team opposition, as Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he expects to play his starters a quarter and a half on Saturday.