Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has responded to claims that he declined to be the backup quarterback last week.
Pickett told reporters from the locker room on Tuesday that he was inactive in Sunday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks because he had not been medically cleared.
“I saw reports that I felt were attacking my character and how I am as a person, not even from a player’s perspective,” Pickett told reporters at the start of his media session, according to The Athletic. “There was no notion of me being a backup quarterback this week, as a two. If I was healthy enough to play, and the trainers and coaches thought I was good enough to play, I would start and play. If they thought I wasn’t, which they did, I wasn’t going to dress and suit up for the game. So, whoever reported that, I don’t know where it started, and it’s sort of crazy what people Would write and publish. To strive to prove their case, support their position, or advance their careers — and what you do.
But I’m sorry to read that, especially without any proof or reason. So this week, I’m the two. They feel wonderful four weeks after surgery, so I can dress and be the two. So I’ll be the two and do everything I need to do to prepare for Baltimore. If you have any further questions concerning this, I believe I answered them very well. If there is anything more to discuss or queries about Baltimore, we will move on.
Despite Pickett being medically cleared to return for Week 18 and participating fully in Tuesday’s walkthrough practice, head coach Mike Tomlin has decided to stay with Mason Rudolph as the starter against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. With Rudolph at quarterback, the offence has grown substantially. Pittsburgh has averaged 432.5 yards per game, 275.0 passing yards, and 32 points in the two games that the veteran has started. With Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky starting, the Steelers averaged 287.1 points, 177.1 passing yards, and 15.9 points per game.
