Head coach Mike Tomlin introduced Monday that regardless of being cleared to return following TightRope surgical procedure on his ankle, Pickett would be the crew’s backup signal-caller behind 2018 third-round choose Mason Rudolph when Pittsburgh performs the Baltimore Ravens (13-3) in Week 18.
The Steelers (9-7) are at present exterior of the playoff picture and have to beat the Ravens on the street and get assist from different groups to make the postseason.
For the second 12 months in a row, Pickett has battled accidents all season.
Regardless of early exits as a consequence of a bone bruise (Week 4 vs. Houston Texans) and a rib damage (Week 8 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars), the 25-year-old suited up for every of Pittsburgh’s first 12 video games of the 12 months. In Week 13 towards the Arizona Cardinals, nonetheless, he suffered a excessive ankle sprain after simply 30 snaps and prematurely left the competition.
The Steelers have misplaced every of the three video games this season when Pickett has been knocked out with an damage. Pittsburgh has gone 7-5 in his 12 begins through the 2023 marketing campaign and he is posted a 62.0 completion proportion for two,070 passing yards, six touchdowns and 4 interceptions (81.4 passer score).
Former Professional Bowler Mitchell Trubisky changed Pickett beneath middle following his accidents towards the Texans, Jaguars and Cardinals and made begins in Weeks 14 and 15 (each losses) vs. the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, respectively.
Rudolph, who has been on the roster the longest amongst the trio of quarterbacks, is seeing his first vital motion since 2019 when he set profession highs in video games performed (10) and began (eight). Rudolph was inactive via the first 13 weeks of the marketing campaign and did not play in Week 14 towards the Patriots however dealt with six snaps in Week 15 and began the final two video games.
The Oklahoma State product has led the Steelers to back-to-back victories and the crew has posted 30-plus factors in each video games for the primary time all 12 months. He is gone 37-for-54 for 567 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions (115.3 passer score) throughout his three video games.
