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Unlike Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t rule Kenny Pickett out for the team’s Week 9 Tennessee Titans matchup. But he did make it clear he needs to see more from his quarterback beyond the ribs injury to consider starting him.
“I’m going to want to see something. Absolutely,” Tomlin said when asked if his clearance was purely medical. “He’s a young guy, position withstanding. I need to see some physical preparation to consider him.”
Mitch Trubisky never firmly took hold of the starting job early in the 2022 season, which is why Pickett remained the starter even after Trubisky was healthy. The two costly interceptions versus the Jacksonville Jaguars aside, the former first-round pick showed he has a stronger pocket presence and smoother mobility.
There’s certainly no quarterback controversy at this point. The Steelers are Kenny Pickett’s team, but in two areas where Pickett has struggled, Trubisky has shown he has more command.