PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett on Tuesday strongly denied rumors that he refused to decorate because the backup to Mason Rudolph in opposition to the Seahawks.
“It was both I used to be going to begin and play,” Pickett mentioned, “or in the event that they did not suppose I used to be ok to do this, wholesome sufficient, I used to be going to be the three and never costume.”
Pickett, who was inactive for the Week 17 win in opposition to the Seahawks regardless of being designated as questionable earlier than the sport, opened up the five-minute scrum with native media Tuesday by saying the rumors, which started spreading on social media Sunday evening, had been false and had been “attacking my character and the way I’m as an individual.”
“There was no speak of me being a backup quarterback this week when it comes to being a 2,” Pickett mentioned. “If I used to be wholesome sufficient to play, and the trainers and coaches felt like I regarded ok to play, I used to be going to begin and play. In the event that they believed that I used to be not — which they believed I used to be not — I used to be not going to decorate and go well with up for the sport.
“So, whoever reported that, I do not know the place it began, it is form of loopy what individuals will write and put on the market to attempt to show their level or assist their standpoint or their careers and what you guys do. However dissatisfied to see that with none proof or foundation of it.”
Pickett, who had TightRope surgical procedure for a excessive ankle sprain on Dec. 4 and was medically cleared to play late final week, additionally mentioned he’ll costume and be the No. 2 quarterback behind Rudolph in Saturday’s regular-season finale in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens.
“This week I am now the two,” Pickett mentioned. “They really feel good 4 weeks out of the surgical procedure for me to decorate and be the two. So I will be the two and do what I’ve to do to be able to go from Baltimore.”
Pickett hasn’t performed since aggravating his ankle damage within the first half in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. Mitch Trubisky began the following two video games in opposition to the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, each losses, however was benched within the last two minutes in opposition to the Colts for longtime backup Rudolph.
Rudolph began and received the following two video games to maintain the Steelers’ playoff hopes alive. Coach Mike Tomlin introduced the choice Monday to journey the recent hand and begin Rudolph in opposition to the Ravens.
“We will depart the ball in Mason Rudolph’s fingers,” Tomlin mentioned. “He is achieved a great job and we have achieved a great job in the newest two weeks. We have taken care of the ball; he is taken care of the ball. We have scored factors at a fee during which we hadn’t achieved thus far this 12 months. And with the urgency of the second, and due to these causes, we’ll depart the ball in his fingers. However I say all these issues with the understanding that I do know Kenny could be very succesful, and notably because it pertains to this matchup, Kenny has led us to victory late within the sport the final two instances we performed Baltimore. And so, we really feel like we acquired two succesful guys.”
With Rudolph at quarterback, the Steelers have scored 34 and 30 factors in back-to-back wins, and the offense is averaging greater than 400 yards per sport in every of these contests. Rudolph additionally threw for 290 and 274 yards. Pickett, in the meantime, has averaged 172.5 yards per sport in 12 begins this season and has six touchdowns to 4 interceptions.
“As a competitor, you need the ball,” Pickett mentioned. “I need the ball in probably the most essential conditions of the sport. I need the ball within the largest video games of the season, and that is what you’re employed for, that is what you do. However one man’s misfortune is one other man’s alternative.
“Mason performed effectively when he acquired in there. I’ve a ton of respect for Mason. Every little thing he is achieved and what our group has been doing. So now my job that I am again wholesome is to be the backup. If one thing occurs, if he goes down, be able to go and proceed to assist him the best way I have been.”
Pickett mentioned the conversations with the teaching employees about his standing and the quarterback place had been restricted throughout his restoration from the ankle surgical procedure, with the main target remaining on rehabbing his ankle.
“It was powerful,” Pickett mentioned of the dialog with Tomlin. “Early on, there actually wasn’t many conversations. It was very a lot a day-by-day, week-by-week factor when it comes to what was occurring. If Mason didn’t play effectively, I really feel like I’d’ve needed to go in there sooner than they’d’ve needed me to, and that is simply the reality of the scenario.
“He performed effectively. They felt the place I used to be at in my restoration. They did not need to push it and check out for me to go well with up and needed to get thrown in there. In order that’s why I did not go well with [up].”
Pickett has been a restricted participant in observe all through the final two weeks, however he did not take any first-team reps. That, Tomlin mentioned Monday, was the idea for Pickett not being the first backup to Rudolph in opposition to Seattle.
“It was concerning the distribution of reps and who was greatest ready and positioned to assist us win,” Tomlin mentioned of the choice to make Pickett inactive. “And so, that is the route that we went with.”
Pickett confirmed the dearth of group reps contributed to him not being lively in opposition to Seattle.
“From a training standpoint, that is what they needed, me to get extra reps,” Pickett mentioned. “And so they weren’t snug with what I used to be trying like earlier within the week with the place I used to be with my ankle to do this.”
Pickett additionally mentioned he’d wish to get group reps earlier than getting again on the sector, however he acknowledged that it is troublesome to do at this level within the season.
“Reps are restricted, such as you mentioned, being 4 weeks eliminated, you need to get reps to simply get again into the swing of issues,” Pickett mentioned. “However the place we’re at proper now, it is form of exhausting to do this.”
Requested if he felt he had misplaced his beginning job, Pickett expressed some frustration.
“Hear, like I simply mentioned, it was one man’s misfortune, one other’s alternative,” Pickett mentioned. “He got here in, he is taking part in effectively and that is why they are going to roll with him. So we’ll see the way it performs out. I acquired to be able to go in case we’ve got to, no matter it takes to get to the playoffs, it is all fingers on deck, so I will be able to go if want be.”
Pickett declined to take a position on what being the No. 2 behind Rudolph for this important sport meant for his future. A 2022 first-round choose, Pickett is beneath contract by way of 2025, and he might be saved beneath membership management till 2026 with the fifth-year possibility. That call is due in Could 2025.
“It has been so day-by-day, week-by-week,” Pickett mentioned. “We’ll determine that out when the time comes.”
