Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Inactive vs. Seahawks

SEATTLE — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett will not be active for his team’s Week 17 game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Pickett has been attempting to recover from surgery to repair a high ankle sprain on his right ankle suffered on Dec. 2. He was a limited participant in practice all week, but head coach Mike Tomlin said on Friday that Mason Rudolph would make his second consecutive start this week.

Pickett was ruled as questionable to play against the Seahawks in the Friday injury report, leaving the door open to him dressing as a backup, but Mitch Trubisky will again serve as the team’s only backup quarterback for the second consecutive week.

There is no roster upside to the Steelers scratching Pickett. They could have made him or Trubisky the emergency third quarterback and still dressed the same number of players at all of the other positions.

Benched? Mike Tomlin Reveals Why He’s Starting Mason Rudolph Over Kenny Pickett

Rudolph will attempt to build off a productive first start last week against Cincinnati, when he gave one of the best statistical Steelers quarterback performances in years in a 34-11 win over the Bengals.

Rudolph threw 27 times, completing 17 for 290 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was George Pickens, who caught touchdown passes of 86 and 66 yards on his way to a career best day.

Rudolph’s 124 passer rating was the best for a Steelers quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger in 2018.

Pickett will have one more chance to return to the lineup this regular season, in the Week 18 finale against the Baltimore Ravens next week.