Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Denies Matt Canada Promotion

The Steelers have not changed Matt Canada’s role in the offense. Head coach Mike Tomlin denied that on Tuesday, but quarterback Kenny Pickett backed up that statement on Wednesday. Those speculations came after, on Sunday, insider Jordan Schultz reported that Canada had taken a more significant role in the team’s development of their young quarterback.

Appearing on The QB Room, Pickett addressed the report a day after Tomlin responded by saying ‘no.’ QB coach Mike Sullivan is still very hands-on with Pickett, and there is little change to the workflow in the offense’s hierarchy, it would seem, at this point.

“No, I mean Coach T addressed that today, and I didn’t know about that until someone brought it up to me,” Pickett said. “I don’t know where that info came from. That’s definitely false. We’re meeting, we’re doing the same routine. You know, we’re maybe meeting a little bit more, but Coach Sullivan is my quarterbacks coach, and we spend a ton of time together, I spend a ton of time together with Coach Canada has we always have been. So, I don’t think anything changed drastically. I’m not sure where that came from, but we’re all collectively working together.”

The growth and development of Pickett are off to a rocky start in his second year as a pro. He had his best game of the year on Sunday but was still imperfect. However, the first two games were disastrous for the offense and Pickett. The Steelers’ offense averaged just 9.5 points per game through two games and a league-low 12 first downs. They were the only team in the league that failed to register a first down in the first quarter.

Still, it does not seem like the Steelers have drastically changed Canada’s role in the offense for anything, such as what is detailed when the report came out. Pittsburgh must continue finding solutions to their struggles on the offensive side of the ball and hit their stride sooner rather than later, but more of Canada working with Pickett does not appear to be one of those solutions right now.