Kenny Pickett Injury News & Updates

Pickett entered the Raiders' 10-7 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night for Geno Smith (quadriceps) with 14:38 remaining in the fourth quarter and failed to complete his only pass attempt.

Smith was injured on a short scramble on the first play of the fourth quarter, necessitating Pickett's entry into the game. However, the 2022 first-round pick of the Steelers only made a brief cameo, handing off to Ashton Jeanty on his first play before tossing an incomplete pass intended for Jack Bech. Smith was able to reenter the game on the next possession and finish out the game, and the veteran signal-caller will now have extra time to get fully healthy before a Week 11 home matchup against the Cowboys on Monday night, Nov. 17.

Pickett completed two pass attempts for eight yards and lost a fumble in Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Chiefs.

Pickett has served as the Raiders' backup quarterback for each of Las Vegas' first seven games but didn't get the chance to make his debut until halfway through the fourth quarter of Sunday's contest, when the Chiefs had already built a 31-point lead. The quarterback proceeded to fumble his first snap of the season, then went three-and-out on the Raiders' next drive before handing off to Dylan Laube on the team's ensuing possession as time expired. Though starter Geno Smith passed for just 67 yards before being pulled from Sunday's contest in the fourth and has thrown an NFL-high 10 interceptions through seven weeks, head coach Pete Carroll didn't hint in his postgame press conference that he was considering a change at quarterback moving forward. As such, Pickett tentatively looks set to remain in a backup role coming out of the Raiders' Week 8 bye.

Pickett (hamstring) practiced fully Wednesday, Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee reports.

Prior to being traded from the Browns to the Raiders on Aug. 25, Pickett had been managing a hamstring issue. The QB's full practice participation Wednesday, however, paves the way for him to serve as Geno Smith's backup in Week 1 against the Patriots. Meanwhile, fellow signal caller Aidan O'Connell (wrist) is on IR and will miss at least four games out of the gate this season.

Pickett (hamstring) was traded from the Browns to the Raiders on Monday in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

The Browns had a logam at quarterback, while the Raiders recently lost their projected backup, Aidan O'Connell (wrist,) for at least six weeks. That makes this trade logical for both sides, with Pickett now in line to back up Geno Smith for the Raiders, assuming he is healthy enough to suit up in Week 1. While Pickett has been a disappointment given his first-round pedigree, he should be servicable relative to other backups if called upon.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski relayed Sunday that Pickett (hamstring) could be available for the Browns' regular-season opener against the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 7, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Pickett did not play in any of the Browns' three preseason games due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in late July. He's on track to be available for Week 1, but his role (if healthy) remains to be seen. Joe Flacco has been named as the Browns' starting quarterback for the start of the regular season, but the backup job is a three-way competition between Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Regardless of who wins the QB2 job, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports that the Browns are comfortable with carrying four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster to start the season.

Pickett (hamstring) won't play in Saturday's preseason game against the Rams, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Pickett returned to practice last week but still hasn't been a full participant. He's merely hoping to open the season as Cleveland's No. 2 QB at this point, with Joe Flacco having been named as the Week 1 starter.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Pickett (hamstring) remains limited but took part in team drills at practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Pickett took part in 11-on-11 reps for the first time since July 26, as his lingering hamstring injury had held him out of not only preseason action, but also team drills at practice. Stefanski has named Joe Flacco the Week 1 starter, but said Tuesday that a decision on the No. 2 role hasn't yet been made, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. If Pickett can gain full clearance in time to suit up for Saturday's preseason finale against the Rams, it will provide him a chance to compete with rookies Shedeur Sanders (oblique) and Dillon Gabriel for the top backup spot. Tyler Huntley may also take the field Saturday, but he's expected to be cut when Cleveland finalizes the 53-man roster.

Pickett (hamstring) will be contending for a backup role to begin the regular season, as Joe Flacco has been named the Browns' starting QB ahead of Week 1.

Cleveland declared Flacco its starter Monday, leaving Pickett in a competition with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) for the second spot on the team's quarterback depth chart. Tyler Huntley and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) are currently with the Browns as well, though the latter is expected to miss a significant chunk of the 2025 campaign. Which QB wins the No. 2 role could come down to Saturday's preseason finale against the Rams, though Pickett and Sanders are uncertain to participate due to their respective injuries.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday he's "hopeful" that quarterbacks Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) will increase their activity level in practice this week, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Pickett was limited to 7-on-7 work during practice last week as he works his way back from a hamstring injury sustained July 26. Sanders has been sidelined since he suffered an oblique injury during practice Wednesday. Stefanski also said Sunday that he plans to name this week who will be the team's regular-season starter, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Veteran Joe Flacco is likely to win the job given his experience and the distribution of first-team practice reps during training camp. Both Pickett and Sanders did not participate in Saturday's 22-13 preseason win over the Eagles, leaving third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel to start while the 40-year-old Flacco sat out for rest purposes. Quarterback Tyler Huntley is currently on Cleveland's roster as well, but he'll likely be let go if the team keeps Flacco, Pickett, Sanders and Gabriel heading into Week 1.

Pickett (hamstring) remained limited at practice Thursday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

On the plus side, Pickett, who remains limited to 7-on-7 work, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com, said Thursday that he feels like he's "turning the corner." As for whether the QB can improve to the point where he can practice fully next week, Pickett acknowledged, "I can't say that yet. It will be close." As things stand, Joe Flacco continues to trend toward getting the start in Week 1, with Pickett's chances of making a late push for the assignment still hampered by the fact that he's not yet 100 percent back from his hamstring issue.

Pickett (hamstring) participated in 7-on-7 drills Wednesday, but he remains absent from 11-on-11s, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.

Pickett continues to manage a hamstring injury sustained July 26, and which at this stage has caused him to miss a majority of training camp reps, as well as Cleveland's preseason opener against the Panthers last Friday. Meanwhile, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that Joe Flacco has entrenched himself as the clear favorite to open Week 1 as Cleveland's starting quarterback, while Dillon Gabriel has returned to practice after nursing a hamstring issue of his own, and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) exited Wednesday's session due to injury. Saturday's preseason reps against Philadelphia figure to be split between a combination of Gabriel, Sanders and Pickett, with much depending on the health of the latter two players.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Pickett (hamstring) will practice but remains limited to 7-on-7 drills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Pickett and Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) were both kept from suiting up for Cleveland's preseason opener against the Panthers on Friday due to injuries, leaving Joe Flacco to rest with the starters while Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Huntley dominated reps. Gabriel returned to 11-on-11 drills Monday, however, a development that places increased pressure on Pickett to return to action soon or risk falling further behind. If Cleveland opts to keep the rookie tandem of Sanders and Gabriel on the 53-man roster, Pickett and Flacco may not be competing for just the Week 1 starting role, but also a single roster spot. Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that Stefanski hopes to make a decision on the starting QB around the time of Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles.

Pickett (hamstring) participated in 7-on-7 drills during Wednesday's practice, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Per Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site, Pickett won't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers, while the QB's status for the team's Aug. 16 contest against the Eagles is uncertain at this stage. The same applies to Dillon Gabriel (hamstring), with fellow signal-callers Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Huntley handling team drills Wednesday.

Pickett (hamstring) won't take part in team drills during Monday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

While Pickett's return to the practice field is a positive development, the hamstring injury that previously sidelined him continues to limit him. Once Pickett is able to work fully, he'll look to resume competing for the Browns' top QB job, but for now Zac Jackson of The Athletic suggests that Pickett has been losing ground on that front to veteran signal-caller Joe Flacco. Per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, Pickett is unlikely to play in Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said that Pickett (hamstring) will return to practice Friday in a limited capacity, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

After missing three practices with a hamstring injury, Pickett is back on the field for Friday's session, though he won't work in team drills. Now that he's back in action, Pickett will return to the task of competing with veteran QB Joe Flacco for the team's Week 1 starting nod. Prior to sustaining his hamstring issue, Pickett had been splitting most of the first-team reps with Flacco, with Dillon Gabriel also sprinkling in, while Shedeur Sanders didn't get any work with the first unit.

Coach Kevin Stefanski noted Monday that there is "no timetable" for Pickett's return from a hamstring injury, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

With Pickett, who suffered the injury at the end of Saturday's practice, sidelined for now, most of the Browns' first-team reps will go to veteran QB Joe Flacco. Prior to his hamstring issue, Pickett had been splitting most of the first-team reps with Flacco, with Dillon Gabriel sprinkling in and Shedeur Sanders not getting any work with the first unit. Assuming Pickett's injury doesn't linger, he'll have an opportunity to resume competing for the Week 1 starting assignment, but his status for Cleveland's Aug. 8 preseason opener against the Panthers is unclear.

Pickett sustained a hamstring injury near the end of practice Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter adds that Pickett will be re-evaluated later this week, so he'll likely be sidelined for at least a few practices moving forward. It's unclear how he sustained this injury. The 2022 first-round pick has been the first quarterback on the field during the Browns' 11-on-11 sessions so far in training camp. Cleveland is still working through identifying who will be its starting quarterback Week 1, as veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are all believed to have a chance at the job. There'll be more reps for these three while Pickett is sidelined for the time being. The Browns' first preseason game is Aug. 8 versus the Panthers.

Pickett got the first crack with the starters during Cleveland's 11-on-11 session Wednesday, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Pickett got the nod Wednesday to operate as the team's first quarterback during 11-on-11, while Joe Flacco sat out the session. Flacco saw the first reps with the first-team offense during a modified 7-on-7 versus Cleveland's No. 1 back seven. Considering it was the team's first full-team workout, it'd be unwise to read into it greatly, but it appears as if Pickett is a step above rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and he could be the early favorite to compete with Joe Flacco for the starting role in Week 1 versus the Bengals.

Pickett has been the first quarterback in the warmup line and most drills during mandatory minicamp, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Pickett is getting the opportunity for a lot of reps due to a combination of his seniority and the lack of need for Joe Flacco to get reps as a seasoned veteran. Jackson described Pickett's performance as "unremarkable" and also said that the order in which the Browns' quarterbacks take reps has little meaning at this point in the offseason.

The Browns aren't expected to pick up Pickett's fifth-year option, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Cleveland traded for Pickett in a deal that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Eagles in March, but the organization appears unwilling to commit to giving the former Steeler $22.1 million in guaranteed money by picking up his option. That decision may have been influenced in part by the Browns adding two quarterbacks -- Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders -- via the draft, and the team also re-signed veteran Joe Flacco in mid-April. All four are expected to compete for the Browns' starting QB role during training camp, though Deshaun Watson may have a chance of reclaiming that job when he eventually returns from a ruptured Achilles.

Pickett has been joined in Cleveland's quarterback room by rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, whom the Browns drafted in the third and fifth rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, respectively.

Cleveland's quarterback depth chart now runs five players deep, including Deshaun Watson, who isn't expected to be available for the beginning of the season as he recovers from an Achilles tear. After trading for Pickett on March 10, the Browns signed 40-year-old Joe Flacco on April 11, then drafted Gabriel out of Oregon and Sanders out of Colorado. Sanders was viewed as a likely first-round pick before surprisingly dropping in the draft, so he has more immediate upside than the typical fifth-round draft pick. Pickett may be able to thread the needle and win the starting job as a far younger option than Flacco but one with more experience than Sanders or Gabriel, but even in that scenario, Pickett would likely be on a short leash with no shortage of available alternatives under center.

The Browns have acquired Pickett from the Eagles in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

With Deshaun Watson still recovering from an Achilles' injury that is expected to extend into the coming season and Jameis Winston a looming free agent, Pickett bolsters the Browns' QB room ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. The team figures to address the position further in the coming weeks/months, but as things stand, Pickett -- a 2022 first-rounder -- should have a chance to compete for the starting job in Cleveland after working behind Jalen Hurts last season.

Pickett completed 25 of 42 pass attempts (60 percent) for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions across five regular-season appearances with the Eagles in 2024. He also rushed nine times for 15 yards and one touchdown, and he fumbled once.

Almost all of Pickett's offensive snaps came in two appearances, Week 16 and Week 17, when he filled in for a concussed Jalen Hurts before being forced off the field due to a ribs injury of his own. Pickett was cleared in time for the start of Philadelphia's playoff run, ultimately playing a backup role behind Hurts en route to the team's Super Bowl LIX victory. He has one year remaining on his deal with the Eagles and figures to reprise his role as Hurts' backup for the 2025 season.

Pickett (ribs) was a limited practice participant Friday but doesn't have a designation for Sunday's wild-card game against the Packers.

Pickett operated with a cap on his reps this week due to the rib injury that he sustained Week 16 at Washington and then aggravated Week 17 versus the Cowboys. He yielded the start under center in the Eagles' regular-season finale against the Giants to Tanner McKee with Jalen Hurts in the concussion protocol, but the latter gained clearance from an independent neurologist Friday, ensuring the team's franchise QB will be back this weekend. As a result, Pickett will return to his typical backup role Sunday.

Pickett (ribs) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

Pickett maintained his activity level from Wednesday due to the rib injury that has plagued him since a Week 16 loss in Washington. Meanwhile, No. 1 QB Jalen Hurts practiced fully Thursday, but there's been no word regarding whether he's cleared the concussion protocol. As a result, the situation under center remains unsettled for the Eagles ahead of Sunday's wild-card game against the Packers.

Pickett (ribs) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

The same goes for Jalen Hurts, who remains in concussion protocol but was the first QB to go through drills during Wednesday's practice. Pickett likely will be healthy enough to play this Sunday against Green Bay, but the Eagles hope he'll only be needed for a backup role and not as a replacement for Hurts.

Pickett (ribs) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants, but he'll fill a backup role behind Tanner McKee, who will serve as the Eagles' starting quarterback in Week 18, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Pickett didn't practice in any fashion this week after exiting in the second half of his start in the Week 17 win over the Cowboys with the rib injury, so he could end up serving as the Eagles' No. 3 quarterback behind both McKee and Ian Book. Jalen Hurts is inactive for the regular-season finale, but if he can clear concussion protocol during the upcoming week, he should be ready to move back into the starting role in the Eagles' wild-card game. Pickett will likely leapfrog McKee and Book and settle back in as Hurts' top backup if Pickett can move past his own rib injury.

Pickett (ribs) remains listed as questionable but isn't expected to play in Sunday's game against the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Though neither Pickett nor No. 1 quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion/finger) practiced this week, Pickett took a designation into the weekend, whereas the Eagles have already ruled Hurts out. The Eagles are still likely to make Pickett inactive this week, though he'll presumably be the team's emergency No. 3 quarterback rather than Hurts. Third-string quarterback Tanner McKee took all the first-team reps in practice this week and will draw his first career start Sunday, while Ian Book should serve as McKee's top backup. Assuming both he and Hurts move past their respective injuries in time for the wild-card round, Pickett will likely settle back into his normal No. 2 role.

Pickett (ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest versus the Giants.

Despite not practicing this week due to a rib injury, Pickett has been given a chance to be available, at the very least, for the Eagles' regular-season finale. With Jalen Hurts (concussion/left finger) out for a second consecutive game, a healthy Pickett likely would be getting the nod under center Week 18, but fellow reserve Tanner McKee relayed to Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia on Friday that he's preparing for his first NFL start. As a result, Pickett may be McKee's direct backup Sunday or even inactive as the emergency third QB behind McKee and Ian Book, assuming Pickett suits up.

Pickett (ribs) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

For the second straight day, neither Pickett nor Jalen Hurts (concussion/finger) took part in drills, leaving Tanner McKee and Ian Book as the team's only healthy quarterbacks. With the Eagles locked in as the NFC's No. 2 seed, head coach Nick Sirianni said earlier in the week that Hurts is on track to sit out Sunday's game against the Giants, but Pickett could still have a chance at starting in the regular-season finale. Even so, Pickett will almost certainly need to practice in some fashion Friday to keep himself in the mix for the Week 18 start, as McKee currently looks like the frontrunner to direct the Philadelphia offense against New York.

Pickett (ribs) didn't take part in Wednesday's walkthrough.

Coach Nick Sirianni already has relayed that many starters won't be available Sunday versus the Giants, including starting QB Jalen Hurts and No. 1 RB Saquon Barkley. Sirianni also said, "We'll see," when asked about Pickett's availability this weekend, per Martin Frank of The Delaware News Journal. Consequently, it appears practices Thursday and Friday will be key to determining who among Pickett and fellow reserve Tanner McKee will be under center for the Eagles in Week 18.

Pickett exited Sunday's contest against the Cowboys due to a rib injury, EJ Smith of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Pickett came in for Jalen Hurts last Sunday at Washington after the latter suffered a concussion, but the former emerged from that game with a rib issue. While Pickett had some practice limitations this week, he was named the Eagles' Week 17 starting quarterback in place of Hurts, who was ruled out Friday. Pickett was wearing extra protection around his midsection due to the aforementioned injury Sunday, but he took a big hit from Dallas defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa that drew a roughing the passer penalty on the second play of the second half and was rolling around in pain afterward. Pickett finished out the possession that ended in a field goal but then went to the locker room, yielding QB duties to Tanner McKee.

Pickett will be the Eagles' starting quarterback Sunday against the Cowboys with Jalen Hurts (concussion) ruled out for that contest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This comes as no surprise as Hurts hasn't been able to practice since sustaining a concussion in the first quarter this past Sunday in Washington. Pickett stepped in for Hurts thereafter, completing 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception, notching three carries for 13 yards and fumbling once (Philadelphia recovered). On Sunday, Pickett will be taking on a Dallas defense that has given up the third-most combined TDs (23 passing, eight rushing) to opposing quarterbacks in 15 games this season.

Pickett (ribs) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Pickett stepped in for Jalen Hurts (concussion) in the first quarter of this past Sunday's game in Washington and finished out the contest, playing 62 of 74 offensive snaps, completing 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception, taking three carries for 13 yards and fumbling one time (Philly recovered). He also emerged with a rib injury, which necessitated extra padding during Thursday's session, per Martin Frank of The Delaware News Journal. Afterward, Pickett relayed to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer that he'll be good to go Sunday versus the Cowboys if Hurts isn't able to play, and considering the latter hasn't made any notable progress through the protocol for head injuries, Pickett seems likely to be under center for the Eagles this weekend.

Pickett (ribs) was listed as limited on Wednesday's practice estimate.

Meanwhile, starting QB Jalen Hurts (left finger/concussion) was listed as a non-participant to kick off Week 17 prep. Considering Pickett would have logged some reps if the Eagles had held practice Wednesday, he seems to be in a better position than Hurts to make himself available for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, but former may need to progress to full participation Thursday and/or Friday in order to avoid a designation entering the weekend. Tanner McKee currently is the healthiest signal-caller on Philadelphia's active roster.

Pickett said he had X-rays on his ribs after Sunday's 36-33 loss at Washington, Brooks Kubena of The Athletic reports. Stepping in for Jalen Hurts (concussion) in the first quarter, Pickett completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception and recorded three carries for 13 yards.

Pickett replaced Hurts early on and directed the Eagles offense for the rest of the contest, but emergency third quarterback Tanner McKee was spotted throwing passes on the sideline in the fourth quarter, which coincided with the former seemingly committing a fumble that was ruled an incomplete pass upon review. Pickett confirmed that the rib injury occurred on that play and that he'll be evaluated further Monday. With Hurts in the protocol for head injuries and Pickett banged-up as well, Philadelphia's QB situation is in some flux as the team gears up for a matchup with the Cowboys next Sunday.

Pickett saw the field for the first time in an Eagles uniform Sunday against the Giants, throwing a single incomplete pass in the fourth quarter of a 28-3 victory.

Pickett replaced Jalen Hurts with 10:32 left in the fourth quarter, tasked with running out the clock with his team up by four scores. He spent nearly all his time handing off, with one incompletion and one sack in his two dropbacks.

Pickett completed six of nine passes for 58 yards in Saturday's 26-3 preseason loss to the Vikings.

With Jalen Hurts sitting out the Eagles' preseason finale, Pickett got another start and played the entire first half, but the former Steeler did little with the opportunity. Pickett's longest completions both went to Parris Campbell, for 19 and 15 yards on his first and last possessions of the day, but he had no other gains for double-digit yards. 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee played most of the second half and had an uneven performance, which likely secures Pickett's spot as Hurts' primary backup to begin the regular season.

Pickett completed 11 of 13 passes for 67 yards while adding two rushing attempts for six yards in Thursday's 14-13 preseason win over the Patriots.

Pickett played the entire first half as Jalen Hurts once again got the night off. The former Pittsburgh quarterback was content checking the ball down and led the offense to only three points, though he didn't have top skill players such as A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Saquon Barkley at his disposal. Despite having 24 regular-season starts under his belt, Pickett figures to get extensive playing time in the Aug. 24 preseason finale against the Vikings as he continues to familiarize himself with his new team's offense.

Pickett completed 14 of 22 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 16-13 preseason win over the Ravens.

Reporting earlier in the day suggested that Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' first-team offense would get a series at the beginning of the game, but instead Pickett got the start under center and played into the second half. While he did connect with Will Shipley on a seven-yard TD pass on Philadelphia's second possession, Pickett had no success stretching the field and averaged just 4.0 yards per attempt, with his longest completion going for only 10 yards. The former Steeler appears set as Hurts' top backup this season, but he'll only be an emergency or garbage-time option.

The Steelers are trading Pickett to the Eagles for a draft pick swap, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

As recently as 10 days ago, multiple Pittsburgh beat reporters said the team preferred to keep Pickett and Mason Rudolph and then let them compete for the starting job. Both are now gone and will be backups for other teams, while the Steelers have Russell Wilson as the lone QB on their offseason roster. The move to Philadelphia might help Pickett's development but also means he'll have no opportunity to compete for the top spot, instead serving as a clear backup to Jalen Hurts. The 2022 first-round pick has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract, plus a fifth-year option for 2026 that's unlikely to be picked up.

Pickett won't necessarily have the opportunity to compete with newly signed Russell Wilson for a starting job, ESPN's Brooke Pryor reports.

Wilson may be past his prime but nonetheless became a strong favorite for the Week 1 start when his decision to sign with the Steelers was announced Sunday night. GM Omar Khan said a week earlier that he had "full faith" in Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick (20th overall) with more regular-season wins (14) than TD passes (13). A good defense and strong record in one-score games has allowed the Steelers to stick in the playoff hunt the past two years, but Wilson give the offense some actual upside in what likely will be a run-first system under new coordinator Arthur Smith. Meanwhile, QB Mason Rudolph now seems likely to sign with a new team, leaving Wilson and Pickett as the experienced QBs in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers want to give Pickett another chance to be their starting quarterback, according to Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The 2022 first-round pick has thrown 13 touchdown passes in 24 NFL games but went 7-5 as a starter in both of his first two pro seasons. While it's safe to say Pickett won't ever be a top quarterback, the Steelers apparently hope he can become a competent starter under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Dulac suggests the Steelers are unlikely to pursue QBs that definitely would expect to be starters (e.g. Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins) but could end up re-signing impending free agent Mason Rudolph, who replaced an injured Pickett in December and then continued to start once his teammate was medically cleared. It's certainly worth noting that not all of the Pittsburgh beat reporters are as confident as Dulac about the Steelers wanting to give Pickett another shot rather than replacing him with someone like Fields/Cousins/Wilson.

Pickett (ankle) is listed as active Saturday at Baltimore, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

This marks Pickett's first game in which he'll be active since sustaining a high right-ankle sprain Week 13 against the Cardinals and undergoing surgery to repair it Dec. 6. However, he won't be the Steelers' starting quarterback, with Mason Rudolph handling those duties. Rudolph has fared fine in back-to-back starts, but it remains to be seen if he'll be on a short leash with the team seeking a playoff berth.

Pickett (ankle) was listed as a full participant on Tuesday's estimated injury report, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

This marks Pickett's first full listing since undergoing surgery on his right ankle Dec. 6. The Steelers held a walkthrough to begin Week 18 prep, though, so his activity level in ensuing practices likely will help the team determine whether or not he's set to serve as Mason Rudolph's backup Saturday at Baltimore. If healthy, Pickett seems like the better bet to do so over Mitch Trubisky, but coach Mike Tomlin has yet to make a decision.

Pickett (ankle) will likely serve as the backup quarterback in Saturday's game against the Ravens, according to Chris Adamski of TribLive.com.

Pickett is on track to suit up Saturday for the first time since Week 13, but even if he does he will not start, as head coach Mike Tomline revealed that Mason Rudolph will be under center for a third straight contest. Pickett's participation -- or lack thereof -- at practice later this week will likely determine whether or not he will be on the roster for Week 18.

Pickett (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pickett, who last suited up in Week 13, approached Sunday's contest listed as questionable. Now that he's been deemed inactive, Mitch Trubisky is slated to serve as Mason Rudolph's top backup in Week 17. Pickett will thus target a potential return to action next weekend against the Ravens.

Pickett (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

While Pickett, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is questionable for the contest, coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Friday that Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback for the Steelers in Week 17. As a result, Pickett could serve in a backup capacity Sunday, but if he's made inactive, Mitch Trubisky would serve as Pittsburgh's No. 2 QB versus Seattle.

Pickett (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Though Pickett practiced in a limited fashion for the second day in a row, the Steelers haven't made a decision if he'll be available for Sunday's game against the Seahawks after having missed Pittsburgh's last three games while recovering from a right ankle procedure. If Pickett is cleared to suit up this weekend, he'll likely be serving as the team's No. 2 quarterback, as head coach Mike Tomlin already indicated earlier in the week that Mason Rudolph is being prepped for a second straight start.

Pickett (ankle) was limited at practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pickett is gradually working his way back from a Dec. 4 procedure on his right ankle, but at this stage it appears that the Steelers are proceeding as though Mason Rudolph will start Sunday's game against the Seahawks. Added clarity regarding Pickett's Week 17 status will arrive no later than Friday's final injury report, but given Rudolph's strong play in this past Saturday's 34-11 win over the Bengals, the Steelers can afford to proceed deliberately with Pickett.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Pickett (ankle) is "in the same position" with his injury as last week, with Tomlin noting that Mason Rudolph is "scheduled to be" the Steelers' starting quarterback for Sunday's game in Seattle, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin stopped short of guaranteeing that Rudolph will make a second straight start after he threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns in this past Saturday's 34-11 win over the Bengals, but the Steelers appear set to go with Rudolph again while Pickett's health remains something of a question mark. After missing the Steelers' previous two games while recovering from right ankle surgery, Pickett was cleared to resume individual work, but he didn't make enough progress to attain active status for the Week 16 matchup with the Bengals. Tomlin noted that the Steelers will see where Pickett is at from a mobility standpoint by the end of the practice week before ruling on his status and/or determining his role for Sunday's game. Even if Pickett isn't able to mix into drills with the first-team offense this week, it's possible that he could still be active as Rudolph's backup over Mitch Trubisky if the Steelers feel comfortable with Pickett's ability to move around the pocket.

Pickett (ankle) won't play Saturday against the Bengals, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

With Pickett deemed unavailable for the contest, Mason Rudolph is slated to draw the start at QB versus Cincinnati, backed up by Mitch Trubisky. Pickett will now target a potential return to action Dec. 31 against the Seahawks.

Pickett (ankle) logged another limited practice Wednesday, Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports.

Pickett worked behind Mason Rudolph and ahead of Mitch Trubisky, though Saunders notes Pickett's movement looked limited compared to the other two quarterbacks. Rudolph has been penciled in as the tentative starter for Saturday's game against the Bengals, though Pickett would be Pittsburgh's first choice to start if deemed healthy enough to play without significant limitations.

Pickett (ankle) was listed as limited on Tuesday's injury report, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pittsburgh's current plan is for Mason Rudolph to be the team's starting quarterback Saturday against the Bengals, with previous fill-in starter Mitch Trubisky getting demoted to third on the depth chart. On Monday, coach Mike Tomlin left "the door ajar" for Pickett to be available this weekend for the first time since suffering a high right-ankle sprain Week 13 against the Cardinals, per ESPN.com. Pickett may need to be listed as full on at least one of the Steelers' two remaining Week 16 practice reports Wednesday or Thursday in order to give himself a chance to be available Saturday.

The Steelers plan to start Mason Rudolph against the Bengals on Saturday, but coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that the team is leaving "the door ajar" for Pickett (ankle) if Pickett proves healthy enough to play, ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin didn't rule Pickett out for Saturday and said the quarterback's ankle injury is improving, per Bridget Condon of NFL Network. Pickett has missed the last two games, and the Steelers have dropped three straight with Mitch Trubisky under center. The team's endorsement of Rudolph suggests Pickett most likely won't be ready to play Saturday, but Pickett's participation level in practice will be worth monitoring, as he remains Pittsburgh's top quarterback option when healthy.

Pickett (ankle), who won't play Saturday against the Colts, is reportedly pushing to play in Week 16, according to Ian Rappaport of NFL Network.

Brooke Pryor of ESPN previously reported that Pickett underwent a procedure to "accelerate the healing process" on a high right ankle sprain. Though the QB will miss his second straight game Saturday, Rappaport indicates that Pickett is targeting a potential return as soon as Dec. 23 against the Bengals. That said, Rappaport suggests that a return to action in Week 17 versus the Seahawks is probably a more realistic outcome for the Steelers' signal-caller.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Pickett (ankle) is not a candidate to play Week 15, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Pickett has already missed one game while recovering from tightrope surgery to address a right high-ankle sprain, and he won't have an opportunity to retake the field in time for Saturday's game against the Colts. It remains to be seen whether Pickett could have a chance of getting back on the field Week 16 versus Cincinnati. In the meantime, the Steelers will continue to rely on Mitch Trubisky under center, with Mason Rudolph handling backup duties.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Pickett (ankle) has undergone a successful procedure and will miss Thursday's game against the Patriots, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

Pickett is expected to avoid IR, which would allow him to return earlier than Week 18, but after undergoing ankle surgery he may nonetheless have to miss more than one game. Tomlin confirmed Monday that Pickett is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. In the meantime, beginning with Thursday's contest against New England, Mitch Trubisky will step up as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback. Trubisky entered Sunday's loss to Arizona just before halftime and completed 11 of 17 passes for 117 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

Pickett (ankle) will undergo ankle surgery Monday but is not expected to be placed on IR, Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports.

Pickett is expected to miss extended time due to the right ankle injury he suffered during Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Cardinals, but by not placing him on IR the Steelers are leaving a window open for him to return in time earlier than Week 18. While Pittsburgh hasn't yet officially ruled Pickett out for Thursday's matchup against the Patriots, that announcement currently seems all but inevitable. Mitch Trubisky will stand to start under center for the Steelers until Pickett is deemed fully healthy.

Pickett (ankle) is expected to miss extended time due to the injury he suffered in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Cardinals, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pickett exited in the first half. He was replaced by Mitch Trubisky, who completed 11 of 17 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. Trubisky will likely assume the starting role for the duration of Pickett's absence. A concrete return timeline has yet to materialize for Pickett, but early indications suggest he'll almost certainly miss Thursday's game against the Patriots and is likely to sit out beyond then.

The Steelers announced that Pickett (ankle) has been ruled out for the second half of Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Though he was a full participant in practices Wednesday through Friday, Pickett appeared on the Steelers' Week 13 injury report while managing ankle discomfort. He started and completed seven of 10 attempts for 70 yards and carried three times for three yards in Sunday's contest before injuring his right ankle on a scramble near the goal line with 5:32 remaining in the second quarter. Mitch Trubisky took over at quarterback for Pickett and will now direct the Pittsburgh offense for the rest of the day. The Steelers are facing a quick turnaround for Week 14 with a Thursday night matchup versus the Patriots, so Pickett's status for that contest would appear to be murky, at best.

Pickett left Sunday's game against the Cardinals after suffering a right ankle injury and is questionable to return, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pickett appeared on the Steelers' Week 13 injury report due to discomfort in the same ankle, but he was a full participant in practice Wednesday through Friday. He appeared to aggravate the injury, however, when he took a shot to the ankle on a play near the goal line in the first half. Prior to his exit from the game, Pickett had completed eight of his 11 pass attempts for 75 yards and logged three carries for three yards. Mitch Trubisky took over at quarterback for Pittsburgh after Pickett headed to the locker room for further evaluation.

Pickett (ankle) was a full practice participant Wednesday.

A Tuesday report suggested Pickett's practice participation might be limited this week as the Steelers prepare for a home game against the Cardinals. It turns out he's a full participant, and while it's possible his mobility is impacted, there's no concern about Pickett missing his upcoming matchup with one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Pickett is dealing with ankle soreness and could have his practice participation limited early on during Week 13 prep, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Tomlin didn't seem concerned about Pickett's availability for this Sunday's game against the Cardinals, but the signal-caller still looks like he could be at risk of missing out on some reps when the Steelers hold their first Week 13 practice Wednesday. In his first game this past Sunday with a new offensive coordinator (Eddie Faulkner) and play caller (Mike Sullivan), Pickett turned in a quality performance in the Steelers' 16-10 win over the Bengals, completing 24 of 33 pass attempts for a season-high 278 yards while taking no sacks and committing no turnovers.

Pickett completed 24 of 33 passes for 278 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Bengals.

Pickett showed signs of improvement in his first game after offensive coordinator Matt Canada was fired. Most significantly, Pickett completed passes over the middle of the field to Pat Freiermuth, a piece of the offense that had been missing prior to Sunday's performance. At least in part, that led to a season-best yardage total, with the only blemish being that Pickett failed to record a passing score. Despite the noted improvement, Pickett has just six passing touchdowns in 11 games -- only one of which has come in his last six contests.

Pickett completed 15 of 28 passes for 106 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Browns.

The Steelers employed a relatively heavy rushing attack to take some burden off Pickett in a tough matchup, but he was dreadful when called upon. He averaged an abysmal 3.8 yards per attempt and his longest completion went for only 14 yards. That left Pittsburgh unable to sustain drives, with their only touchdown coming on a 74-yard from Jaylen Warren. Pickett has thrown for multiple touchdowns just once this season and has failed to top 160 pass yards in each of his last four games.

Pickett completed 14 of 23 passes for 126 yards in Sunday's 23-19 win over the Packers.

Pickett's production through the air was similar to his new average of merely 120 yards over his last three outings. However, with the Steelers rushing for 205 yards Sunday, his muted impact was enough to help Pittsburgh to another narrow victory. Although he has now gone five straight games without an interception, Pickett's two passing touchdowns over that span evidence his very mild stock.

Pickett completed 19 of 30 passes for 160 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and added one carry for minus-1 yard in the Steelers' 20-16 win over the Titans on Thursday night.

Pickett remains free of both turnovers and sacks, but he put together his second sub-200-yard performance in a non-injury-shortened game this season. However, the second-year signal-caller did come up big when it mattered most, leading an 11-play, 92-yard fourth-quarter drive that he capped off with a three-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson that proved to be the game-winning score. Pickett had also completed a 32-yard strike to Johnson down the right side earlier in the drive, and he didn't appear inhibited by the rib injury that had forced his early exit from the Week 8 loss to the Jaguars at any point in the night. Pickett next takes aim at the Packers in a Week 10 home matchup on Nov. 12.

Pickett (ribs) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's practice report and doesn't carry an injury designation for Thursday night's game against the Titans, Teresa Varley of the Steelers official site reports.

Pickett, who was forced out of this past Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Jaguars due to a rib injury, previously stated that he planned to play Thursday, an outcome that's been confirmed by the Steelers' final Week 9 injury report. With QB Ryan Tannehill out with an ankle injury, Pickett will be facing off against 2023 second-rounder Will Levis, while working with a fully healthy wideout corps featuring Diontae Johnson, who logged 14 targets in Week 8, in his second game since returning from IR.

Pickett (ribs) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice.

According to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, the Steelers held more of a walk-through session than a traditional practice Tuesday, and Pickett was spotted doing some light throwing in the portion of the workout that was open to the media. After injuring his ribs and exiting this past Sunday's loss to the Jaguars, Pickett and the Steelers face a quick turnaround Week 9 with a Thursday night game against the Titans. Despite having limited time to heal from the injury, Pickett said Tuesday that he expects to start Thursday's game. Unless he upgrades to full practice participation Wednesday, however, Pickett will likely be listed as questionable heading into the contest.

Pickett (ribs) said Tuesday that he intends to play in Thursday's game against the Titans, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

Pickett opened Week 9 with a limited listing on Monday's estimated practice report, and he relayed one day later that he did some light throwing in what was yet another walkthrough session. He thus appears poised for another listing of LP, which will be confirmed when the Steelers post their next injury report later Tuesday.

Pickett (ribs) was listed as limited on the Steelers' estimated practice report Monday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Pickett made an early departure from Sunday's 20-10 loss due to a hard hit that he endured late in the second quarter. He suffered a rib injury as a result, but even with Pittsburgh preparing to host the Titans on a short week Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that "the door is definitively ajar" for Pickett to be available this week. Pickett is considered a "game-time type decision," so his status will be one to monitor closely as Thursday's game draws closer. Mitch Trubisky will be called upon to start if Pickett is unable to suit up.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Pickett (ribs) is a game-time decision for Thursday's contest against the Titans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Pickett was forced out of Sunday's 20-10 loss to Jacksonville due to a rib injury, but Tomlin confirms he didn't sustain any structural damage. Tomlin said he will "leave the door ajar" for Pickett to play Thursday, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but that the decision will come down to the quarterback's "ability to throw and his comfort." Mitch Trubisky would be in line to start under center in the event that Pickett isn't able to play with a short window for recovery.

Pickett has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Jaguars due to a rib injury.

Pickett sustained the injury when he took a hard hit late in the second quarter and headed to the locker room, but he had been expected to return to the game for the second half, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. However, Mitch Trubisky remained the team's quarterback for the first possession of the third quarter, and after further deliberation, Pittsburgh has chosen to hold Pickett out for the rest of the game. Pickett will finish the Week 8 contest with 10 completions on 16 attempts for 73 yards to go with 10 yards on his lone carry. He'll have limited time to heal up from the injury if he hopes to avoid an absence, as the Steelers are set to face the Titans on Thursday night in Week 9.

Pickett completed 17 of 25 passes for 230 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and netted zero yards and a touchdown on eight rushes in the Steelers' 24-17 win over the Rams on Sunday.

Pickett completed a season-best 68.0 percent of his passes while hitting the 230-yard mark for the third time in the first six contests. The second-year signal-caller also stayed interception-free for the second straight game and third time in the last four contests overall, and his one-yard rushing touchdown early in the third quarter erased a 9-3 deficit while also serving as his first score on the ground since Week 10 of last season. Pickett's first opportunity to build on what may have been his best all-around performance of the season comes in a Week 8 home matchup against the Jaguars.

Pickett completed 18 of 32 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 17-10 win over the Ravens.

Pickett was surprisingly able to suit up after suffering a knee injury in Week 4, and he delivered one of his better performances of the season. In addition to averaging 7.0 yards per attempt, he also managed to not turn the ball over for the second time in five games for the campaign. The highlight of his day came with just over one minute remaining in the fourth quarter, when he delivered a 41-yard touchdown pass deep down the right sideline to George Pickens. Even given the relatively positive effort, Pickett has yet to top 235 passing yards in a game this season and has only one multi-touchdown performance.

Pickett (knee) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Ravens.

Pickett approached the game without an injury designation after being listed as a full practice participant Thursday and Friday, and it's been confirmed that the QB will play through a bone bruise in his knee that he sustained during Week 4 action. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Pickett began the practice week working with a knee brace but shed that by Thursday. That said, the QB's mobility could be limited to some degree Sunday, with Garafolo suggesting that the Steelers could look to establish the run versus Baltimore, with an eye toward avoiding 3rd-and long situations as much as possible.

Pickett (knee) doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Ravens, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pickett logged full practices both Thursday and Friday, which sets the stage for the QB -- who sustained a bone bruise in his left knee last week -- to start Sunday's contest against divisional rival Baltimore. While Pickett will be available this weekend, top TE Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) has been ruled out, and with WR Diontae Johnson (hamstring) on IR, the Steelers' top receiving options in Week 5 figure to be WRs George Pickens, Allen Robinson and Calvin Austin along with TE Darnell Washington.

Pickett (knee) returned to a full practice Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pickett was limited one day before, but the QB's return to a full session Thursday puts him on track to play through a bone bruise in his knee Sunday against the Ravens, an outcome Pickett predicted after Wednesday's practice. Barring any setbacks at practice Friday, Pickett seems destined to head into the weekend minus a Week 5 injury designation.

Pickett (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Pickett come out of Sunday's loss to the Texans with a bone bruise and is now using a brace over his knee, but he told reporters Wednesday that he anticipates playing against the Ravens this weekend. An upgrade to full practice participation Thursday or Friday would confirm Pickett is in this week, while a setback or downgrade would open the door for Mitchell Trubisky's first start of the season. Pickett's performance to date suggests we might see Trubisky at some point this season even if his second-year teammate is able to play through the bone bruise and otherwise stays healthy.

Pickett (knee), who practiced Wednesday, believes that he'll be available for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.

"(I feel) good," Pickett said following Wednesday's practice. "I'll be ready to go by Sunday." The Steelers' injury report is slated to clarify Pickett's official participation level, but at this stage it looks as though the QB will be able to remain in the lineup this weekend in the absence of any setbacks. Per Lolley, Pickett sported a brace on his knee during Wednesday's session, but that was viewed as a precautionary measure.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Pickett (knee) is scheduled to practice in some capacity Wednesday, and the Steelers will wait and see how the quarterback fares during the week before deciding on his status for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Tomlin confirmed that Pickett is dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee, an injury that may affect the signal-caller's comfort and mobility in the pocket. The diagnosis of a bone bruise is still probably a best-case scenario for Pickett, who was fortunate to avoid ligament damage to the knee after being forced out late in this past Sunday's loss to the Texans. Based on Tomlin's comments, Pickett looks poised to open Week 5 prep as a limited practice participant, but the 25-year-old looks as though he'll have a shot to play this Sunday so long as he's not too compromised by the knee issue. Mitch Trubisky directed the Pittsburgh offense for the fourth quarter of last week's game and would presumably start against the Ravens if Pickett is unable to go.

Pickett suffered a bone bruise in his knee during Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The report notes that Pickett's injury could lead to a short-term absence, but adds that the door is open for the QB (who is also dealing with a muscle strain) to potentially play this weekend against the Ravens. That said, with the Steelers on bye in Week 6, it's possible that the team could elect to err on the side of caution and hold Pickett out versus Baltimore. If that ends up occurring, Mitch Trubisky would start in his place in Week 5.

Pickett, who is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his left knee Monday, is not believed to have suffered a season-ending injury after exiting in Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Steelers won't know the full extent of Pickett's injury until the results of the MRI are read, but the second-year quarterback appears to have avoided damage to his ACL. Rapoport adds, however, that Pickett is still expected to miss "some time," as the Steelers still have some concern about the integrity of the MCL and meniscus in his left knee. After Pickett went down with the injury late in the third quarter, Mitch Trubisky stepped in to replace him and completed three of five pass attempts for 18 yards. Trubisky looks like the frontrunner to start Sunday's game against the Ravens, though how long he directs the Pittsburgh offense will hinge on Pickett's prognosis.

Pickett is slated to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the left knee injury he sustained in Sunday's loss to the Texans, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Per Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site, coach Mike Tomlin noted after the contest that the QB's injury was being evaluated, but at this stage the severity of Pickett's knee issue is unclear. If he's forced to miss any time, Mitch Trubisky is next in line to handle the team's signal-caller duties, with Mason Rudolph in reserve.

Pickett won't return to Sunday's game against the Texans after suffering a left knee injury.

Before his exit, Pickett completed 15 of his 23 passing attempts for 114 yards and an interception while carrying twice for nine yards. Mitch Trubisky will take over at quarterback for the remainder of Sunday's contest and possibly beyond if Pickett's knee injury ends up being anything other than a minor issue.

Pickett completed 16 of 28 pass attempts for 235 yards and two touchdowns while adding 11 rushing yards on three attempts in Sunday's 23-18 win over the Raiders.

Pickett fared much better on Sunday Night Football than he did in a sloppy primetime win this past Monday. The second-year starter took care of the football without losing confidence in his deep ball, completing a touchdown of over 70 yards for the second week in a row. Pickett will have to continue showing progress to become a hot commodity in fantasy, but this was a step in the right direction after struggling in his previous two starts (albeit against two tough defenses). Pickett will look to build off Sunday's success in a Week 4 matchup against C.J. Stroud and the Texans.

Pickett completed 15 of 30 pass attempts for 222 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Monday's 26-22 win over the Browns.

Pickett struggled with consistency for the second game in a row, leaving him with just two touchdowns to three interceptions to start the season. In the second-year starter's defense, he has gone up against two of the league's best pass rushers in Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett. The 25-year-old did appear to be favoring his left arm after throwing his lone touchdown Monday, but he was back on the field the next time Pittsburgh's offense received the ball, according to Steelers' reporter Dale Lolley. Pickett will be relieved to see Las Vegas on the schedule for Week 3, as they present a far-softer matchup on paper compared to his previous two opponents.

Pickett completed 31 of 46 pass attempts for 232 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while rushing once for four yards during the Steelers' 30-7 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.

Pickett looked sharp during the preseason, but the Steelers' offense had trouble against San Francisco's stingy defense during the regular-season opener. The 24-year-old's preseason results still fuel optimism for the second-year pro in 2023 following an up-and-down rookie season, but it was discouraging to see him held in check in Week 1. The Steelers have a Week 2 matchup against a Browns defense that managed to stifle Joe Burrow in the regular-season opener, so Pickett will face another tough early-season test.

Pickett completed all four of his passes for 86 yards in Thursday's preseason game in Atlanta.

Picket played two drives in each of Pittsburgh's three preseason games and completed 13 of 15 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. He did a lot of that damage against backups, especially Thursday in Atlanta, but it's nonetheless promising that he was so accurate throughout August and displayed good chemistry with George Pickens and Diontae Johnson (both of whom had catches of 30-plus yards). Those two and TE Pat Freiermuth are the favorites to pile up targets from Pickett in a Week 1 home game against the 49ers on Sept. 10.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Pickett and most other starters are likely to play in Thursday's preseason game against Atlanta, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official website reports.

It's a bit surprising given that Pickett and the starters played in the first two games and did quite well, with the QB completing nine of 11 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Tomlin did say that his older starters and elite players likely will be held out, which probably means we'll see a lot of starters on offense and a lot of backups on defense.

Pickett completed three of four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 27-15 preseason victory over the Bills on Saturday.

Pickett led two drives, though that resulted in only seven total plays. Despite the limited exposure, he impressed with a 25-yard touchdown down the middle of the field to Pat Freiermuth. Pickett also connected with George Pickens and Allen Robinson on the day, the majority of the expected first-team offense come the regular season. He's now turned in two strong preseason appearances ahead of his second professional campaign.

Pickett started Friday's preseason opener and logged one offensive drive, completing six of seven pass attempts for 70 yards and a touchdown in a 27-17 exhibition win over Tampa Bay.

Pickett looked to prove the early camp reports of his improved ability to make quick reads from the pocket following a bumpy rookie season. The 2022 first-round pick looked to be in control of the first unit, dialing up four different receivers before ending the drive with a 33-yard touchdown strike to starting wideout George Pickens. If Pickett can carry this momentum into the regular season, we could see him post some gaudy numbers with the Steelers' talented cast of pass-catchers.

Pickett will start Friday's preseason contest against the Buccaneers, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

Pickett has reportedly showcased an improved ability to read the field early in training camp, so it will be interesting to see whether that translates to his first preseason action Friday. The second-year quarterback is coming off a rookie season in which he threw for more than 200 passing yards in just four of 13 appearances, with a 7:9 TD:INT ratio. He and the Steelers' first-team offense may only handle a series or two in Tampa Bay on Friday.

Pickett has been making good reads in practice early in training camp, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Pickett had an up-and-down rookie season in 2022, completing 63.0 percent of his passes for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing 55 times for 237 yards and three touchdowns. He had some encouraging games but had some inefficient performances and topped 200 passing yards in just four of his 13 games last year. He enters the 2023 campaign as the Steelers' clear starting quarterback and has impressed during training camp, but he'll likely be somewhat limited by offensive coordinator Matt Canada's run-first offense.

Pickett completed 13 of 29 passes for 195 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 28-14 win over the Browns.

Pickett entered Sunday's game with some momentum after leading game-winning drives in back-to-back weeks. However, the Pittsburgh offense was stalled early on, as Pickett began with just one completion on his first six attempts. He improved marginally from there and managed five completions of more than 20 yards for the second time of his career. While Pickett closes his rookie campaign with only seven touchdowns and nine interceptions across 13 games, his performance is trending in a positive direction heading into his sophomore season.

Pickett completed 15 of 27 pass attempts for a touchdown in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Ravens.

Pickett didn't post gaudy fantasy totals, but he protected the ball well and produced a game-winning touchdown drive for the second consecutive week to keep Pittsburgh's playoff hopes alive. The rookie signal-caller dropped a dime to Najee Harris between two defenders with less than a minute left on the aforementioned drive to put the Steelers up for good. Pickett has had his ups and downs this season, but he is starting to look like a successful pick in a draft that wasn't considered strong at his position. The Steelers will need some help to make the playoffs, but Pickett will attempt to take care of business against an already-eliminated Browns squad on Sunday.

Pickett completed 26 of 39 passes for 244 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Saturday's 13-10 win over the Raiders. He added three rushes for nine yards.

Pickett returned from a one-game absence caused by a concussion and topped 30 pass attempts for only the second time in his last six games. He averaged a subpar 6.3 yards per attempt but effectively distributed the ball to top pass-catching options such as Pat Freiermuth, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. Pickett also orchestrated a game-winning drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, during which he completed seven of nine passes for 75 yards, which eh capped with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Pickens. With the performance, Pickett surpassed 200 passing yards for the fourth time in 11 games on the campaign, though he has yet to throw for multiple scores in a contest.

Pickett will start Saturday's game against the Raiders after he confirmed that he was cleared by an independent neurologist Monday and removed from the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pickett entered the concussion protocol for the second time this season during the Steelers' Week 14 loss to the Ravens, when he exited the contest and then briefly re-entered before leaving the game for good after self-reporting symptoms of a brain injury, according to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The rookie signal-caller wasn't able to advance beyond limited participation in practice last week and ended up sitting out Pittsburgh's win over Carolina on Sunday, but he's been able to take every rep with the first-team offense so far in Week 16. Though he'll reclaim starting duties from Mitch Trubisky this weekend, Pickett told Lolley that he'll be switching helmets and wearing a visor with the hope of offering better protection against another head injury over the final three games of the season.

Pickett (concussion) is listed as a full participant on Tuesday's estimated practice report, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.

While the Steelers didn't actually practice Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin said he expects Pickett to return and start Saturday against the Raiders. Of course, the rookie will first need to clear the NFL's concussion protocol -- something that still hadn't happened as of Tuesday morning, per Tomlin.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he expects Pickett (concussion) to start Saturday's game against the Raiders, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pickett entered the concussion protocol during the Steelers' Week 14 loss to the Ravens. He consequently was limited in practice last Wednesday through Friday before eventually getting ruled out Saturday for Sunday's contest at Carolina. Mitch Trubisky got the nod for Pickett in the 24-16 win, completing 17 of 22 passes for 179 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions while adding six carries for nine yards and a touchdown. Tomlin also said Tuesday that Pickett would have been a full participant if Pittsburgh had held practice, but the quarterback still has to "check a box" as he makes his way through the protocol for head injuries, per Alan Saunders of PittsburghSportsNow.com.

Pickett (concussion) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

With Pickett unavailable, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com relays that Mitch Trubisky will start at QB for the Steelers on Sunday. Pickett will target a potential return to action in Week 16 against the Raiders.

Coach Mike Tomlin indicated Friday that Pickett (concussion) will be listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Steelers plan to announce their Week 15 starting QB on Saturday, but with Pickett not likely to play this weekend, it looks like either Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph will draw the assignment.

Pickett (concussion) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

The report notes that with Pickett still in the NFL's concussion protocol, fellow quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph have been logging added work at practice. If Pickett isn't cleared to play Sunday against the Panthers, it remains to be seen who would be in line to start in his place, with Brooke Pryor of ESPN having noted that Trubisky and Rudolph split the Steelers' QB reps Wednesday, while Pickett went through individual drills.

Pickett (concussion) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

Though the extent of Pickett's activity in the Steelers' first Week 15 session isn't fully known, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com relays that Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky split the first-team work during the portion of practice that was open to the media. Pryor's report suggests that Pickett may have taken part mostly in individual work, but his presence on the field in any capacity at least demonstrates some level of progression through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. Since he's now in the protocol for a second time during his rookie season, Pickett may have a tough time gaining clearance ahead of Sunday's game in Carolina. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will likely wait until after Friday's practice session before announcing whether Pickett, Rudolph and Trubisky will draw the Week 15 start.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Pickett remains in the concussion protocol and added that the quarterback's participation in practice this week will be critical in guiding a decision for his status for this Sunday's game at Carolina, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

According to Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site, Tomlin said that Pickett initially cleared the protocol upon exiting during the team's first series when he was sacked by the Ravens' Roquan Smith. However, Pickett was then re-evaluated following the Steelers' second series and was deemed unable to continue. Now in the concussion protocol for the second time this season, Pickett may face an uphill battle to gain clearance for the weekend. If that's the case, Tomlin noted that the Steelers will keep both Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph prepared, as the two quarterbacks are set to split first-team reps in practice this week if Pickett isn't available for on-field work. The Steelers will likely wait until the end of the week before naming a starter for Sunday's contest.

Pickett (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Ravens.

The report confirms that Pickett is in the NFL's concussion protocol, which makes the QB's status worth monitoring closely as next Sunday's game against the Panthers approaches. In Pickett's absence, Mitch Trubisky is now handling the Steelers' Week 14 signal-caller duties.

Pickett completed 16 of 28 passes for 197 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 19-16 win over the Falcons.

Pickett wasn't asked to do much in the win, as the Steelers ran the ball 37 times as opposed to his 28 pass attempts. As has been the case for the last few weeks, Pickett showed flashes of competency with long completions of 57, 20 and 17 yards - the final of which was his lone touchdown of the game. Those gains also helped Pickett average 7.0 yards per attempt, the first full game in which he's broken that threshold. Despite those positives, Pickett has thrown for under 200 yards in four of his last five games and has yet to throw for multiple scores in a contest.

Pickett completed 20 of 28 passes for 174 yards without a touchdown or turnover in Monday's 24-17 win over the Colts. He also threw a two-point conversion and rushed six times for 32 yards.

Pickett had George Pickens open in the end zone on third down with the Steelers looking to take a 20-3 lead late in the first half, but the rookie quarterback overthrew the rookie wide receiver, who almost made a spectacular one-handed grab to bail Pickett out. That miscue aside, Pickett looked composed and in command as the Steelers took a 16-3 halftime lead. He went quiet in the third quarter but heated up in the fourth after Pittsburgh fell behind 17-16, leading a game-winning drive that featured a two-yard Benny Snell touchdown run followed by a Pickett-to-Pickens two-point conversion. Pittsburgh's defense held for the final 9:55 to hand Pickett his third win in seven starts. He'll have a decent shot at win No. 4 against Atlanta on the road in Week 13.

Pickett completed 25 of 42 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 37-30 loss to the Bengals. He added two rushing attempts for 14 yards.

Pickett found George Pickens for a 24-yard touchdown to tie the score at 17 in the second quarter. The pair of rookies have shown good chemistry from the get-go, so Pickett-to-Pickens could be a common phrase around Pittsburgh for years to come if the rookie quarterback proves capable of holding down the starting job. Two of Pickett's three career touchdown passes have been thrown to Pickens, but those three touchdowns have been accompanied by eight interceptions, as Pickett's still learning how to limit turnovers heading into a Week 12 primetime game in Indianapolis on MNF.

Pickett completed 18 of 30 pass attempts for 199 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing eight times for 51 yards and a touchdown during the Steelers' 20-10 win over the Saints on Sunday.

Pickett was somewhat inefficient through the air during Sunday's matchup, but he propped up his fantasy production with a career-high 51 rushing yards while also reaching the end zone on the ground. The rookie first-rounder has now topped 1,000 passing yards to begin his professional career, as he's completed 66.7 percent of his pass attempts for 1,161 yards, two touchdowns and eight interceptions over his first six games with the Steelers.

Pickett completed 25 of 38 passes for 191 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 35-13 loss to the Eagles.

Pickett turned in another performance filled with mistakes and inefficiency. He averaged just 5.0 yards per attempt and has yet to surpass a mark of 6.3 in any of the four games he's started this season. Pickett also threw his eighth interception of the season late in the fourth quarter with the game well out of reach. Volume may be the one positive to take away from Pickett's performance, as he has now thrown 52, 44 and 38 passes in his three full games this season. However, for that to matter, he'll need to greatly improve his decision-making and ability to connect down the field with his receivers.

Pickett completed 32 of 44 pass attempts for 257 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions while rushing three times for 20 yards during the Steelers' 16-10 loss to Miami on Sunday.

Pickett sustained a concussion last week against Tampa Bay but was able to suit up after practicing in full all week. The rookie first-rounder kept the Steelers in contention for most of Sunday's primetime matchup on the road, but he threw a pair of interceptions in the closing minutes en route to the team's fifth loss of the season. It seems likely that Pickett will continue to start under center despite Sunday's lackluster performance, but he'll face a tough matchup against the Eagles next week prior to Pittsburgh's Week 9 bye.

Pickett has cleared the league's concussion protocol Friday and is on track to suit up Sunday versus the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Pickett is in line to start over Mitchell Trubisky versus Miami on Sunday Night Football, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. The rookie first-round pick has managed to practice in full all week, a trend which stands to continue Friday and bodes well for him being at full speed. Pickett will also have top tight end Pat Freiermuth back from the concussion protocol for Week 7.

Pickett (concussion) practiced fully Thursday, ESPN's Brooke Pryor reports.

Pickett has practiced fully both Wednesday and Thursday, but it's not clear whether that indicates any particular amount of progress in clearing the league's concussion protocol. If Pickett gains clearance he would presumably start at Miami on Sunday night.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Pickett remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, but the rookie quarterback has been cleared to participate fully in Wednesday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

With Pickett set to receive the green light to take contact three days after exiting Sunday's win over the Buccaneers to be evaluated for a concussion, only an independent neurologist clearing him stands in the way of the 24-year-old exiting the five-step protocol. Even though Mitchell Trubisky came off the bench and performed efficiently to help lead the Steelers to victory, Tomlin noted that Pickett will start Week 7 in Miami if he clears the protocol, as expected.

Pickett (concussion) won't return to Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Prior to exiting the contest and being replaced by Mitch Trubisky, Pickett completed 11 of his 18 pass attempts for 67 yards and a TD. Pickett will now look to clear the NFL's concussion protocols ahead of next Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Pickett, who exited Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, is being evaluated for a concussion, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

With Pickett forced out of the game, Mitch Trubisky has taken over at QB for the Steelers. Prior to departing the contest, Pickett completed 11 of his 18 pass attempts for 67 yards and a TD.

Pickett left Sunday's matchup against Tampa Bay in the second half due to an undisclosed injury, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Pickett took a big hit from Devin White and immediately went to the medical tent. After a brief stint there, he was taken to the locker room. Mitch Trubisky, who started the first four games of the season for Pittsburgh, has replaced Pickett at quarterback.

Pickett completed 34 of 52 pass attempts for 327 yards, no touchdowns and an interception while rushing once for 10 yards during the Steelers' 38-3 loss to Buffalo on Sunday.

The Steelers fell behind early in Sunday's matchup, so the team relied heavily on the passing game during Pickett's first professional start. Although the rookie first-rounder was unable to lead the team to the end zone, it was encouraging to see him rack up plenty of yards through the air after Mitch Trubisky averaged just 163.3 yards per game over the first four weeks of the season. In spite of the lopsided final score, it seems likely that Pickett will retain the starting job under center since he had some success moving the Steelers' offense.

Pickett is listed as the top quarterback on Pittsburgh's Week 5 depth chart, confirming he'll make his first NFL start Sunday in Buffalo, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

As anticipated, the rookie first-round pick will supplant Mitch Trubisky as Pittsburgh's new starter after replacing Trubisky in the second half of last week's 24-20 loss to the Jets. Though Pickett threw three interceptions in his NFL debut, he was at least able to provide a spark by completing 10 of 13 attempts for 120 yards to go with six carries for 15 yards and two scores, the second of which gave the Steelers a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. Pickett didn't showcase major rushing ability in college and can't be counted on to be as useful of a contributor on the ground as he was Week 4, but the 24-year-old at least displayed efficient passing in the preseason and shouldn't be as turnover prone as he was in his NFL debut. He'll make for a worthy speculative pickup in superflex leagues or formats that start two quarterbacks each week.

The Steelers are expected to move forward with Pickett as their starting QB, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Steelers have yet to confirm their starter for this weekend's game against the Bills, but after Pickett replaced Mitch Trubisky in Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Jets, it looks like the 2022 first-rounder is poised to get his first NFL regular-season start Sunday on the road versus the 3-1 Bills. Pickett thus is a worthy roster addition for those in need of short-term signal-caller help or who are in QB-heavy fantasy formats.

Pickett completed 10 of 13 pass attempts for 120 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing six times for 15 yards and two scores during Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Jets.

The Steelers' offense was inefficient during the first half of Sunday's matchup, so Pickett made his NFL debut by taking over for Mitch Trubisky following halftime. Although the rookie first-rounder threw three interceptions, he was relatively productive and reached the end zone three times with his legs. Pickett nearly led the Steelers to the comeback victory, and it certainly seems possible that the team will turn to the rookie as the starting quarterback following a 1-3 start to the season.

Pickett took over for Mitch Trubisky to start the second half of Sunday's game against the Jets, ESPN Rich Cimini reports.

At the time, the Jets held a 10-6 lead, while Trubisky had completed seven of 13 passes for 84 yards and an interception. It remains to be seen if this leads to Pickett starting next Sunday's game against the Bills, but a strong effort in his NFL regular season debut would no doubt support the chances of such an outcome.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin plans to have Pickett 'sit-and-learn' all season long behind Mitch Trubisky, Fox's Jay Glazer reported on their morning preview show.

This isn't necessarily surprising that Tomlin, who has never had a losing season, would prefer to go that route. Moreover, it's logical for a coach to plan that when naming a veteran as the starter - it would be unusual if Tomlin came out and said that he plans to swap quarterbacks later in the season.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Pickett will open the regular season as the team's No. 2 quarterback behind starter Mitch Trubisky, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

The Steelers created some uncertainty about Pickett's Week 1 role by listing him as the third quarterback behind Trubisky and Mason Rudolph on the depth chart the team released Monday, but Tomlin said Tuesday that Rudolph's listing ahead of Pickett was a "clerical error," per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. Pittsburgh has since updated its depth chart to list Pickett as the No. 2 option, and Tomlin noted that the rookie first-round pick will take all the backup reps in practice leading up to the Week 1 contest. Rudolph, meanwhile, is expected to be a healthy inactive while the other two signal-caller are available, leaving Pickett as the next man up to start should Trubisky miss time or lose the job for performance-related reasons at any point in 2022. The 24-year-old Pickett was sharp throughout the Steelers' three-game preseason slate, completing 29 of 36 attempts for 261 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Pickett is listed as the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback on the team's most recent Week 1 depth chart released Tuesday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Just one day earlier, the rookie first-round pick had been listed third on the depth chart behind Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph, but Pickett will now flip spots with Rudolph as Sunday's season opener in Cincinnati approaches. Head coach Mike Tomlin is expected to formally name Trubisky as the team's starter later Tuesday, at which time more clarity on whether Pickett or Rudolph is the top backup should come. Pickett notably played ahead of Rudolph in the Steelers' exhibition finale and was an efficient passer in his first preseason (29 completions on 36 attempts for 261 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions), so he's more than deserving of opening the regular season as the team's No. 2 signal-caller.

Pickett is listed as Pittsburgh's No. 3 quarterback on the team's Week 1 depth chart that was released Monday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Though head coach Mike Tomlin has yet to officially announce a starting quarterback for Sunday's season opener in Cincinnati, Mitch Trubisky's placement atop the depth chart along with his usage in the preseason implies that he'll be under center for Pittsburgh in Week 1. Pickett, a rookie first-round selection, received the chance to battle for the job in the preseason and showed an accurate arm while limiting mistakes during the exhibition slate, but Trubisky's greater body of experience was likely a major factor in the Steelers opting for the veteran option. Pickett's placement on the depth chart behind not only Trubisky but also Mason Rudolph is the bigger surprise, given that Pickett appeared in the preseason finale directly behind Trubisky while Rudolph worked with the third-string offense. Experience may also be the prevailing reason why Rudolph is listed as the No. 2 option, but Pickett may still be the likelier candidate of the two to step in as the starter if Trubisky is benched or is sidelined for

Pickett came in after Mitchell Trubisky in Sunday's 19-9 preseason win over the Lions, completing 10 of 14 pass attempts for 90 yards.

Pickett came in with the second unit after Trubisky got the start as expected, but after the game head coach Mike Tomlin stated that his starting quarterback decision won't be made until the regular season kicks off Sept. 11, according to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. Mason Rudolph (zero passing yards on three attempts) is also in the mix, but it appears as though Trubisky and the rookie are the two frontrunners, with the former being the slight favorite based on experience. Pickett has certainly looked the part this preseason, but the Steelers' coaching staff may want a more-seasoned option to manage a talented group of young playmakers. Whoever Tomlin picks shouldn't affect too many fantasy decisions Week 1, as neither quarterback should warrant a start in standard formats.

Pickett completed six of seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason loss to the Jaguars.

Pickett entered the game after Mitch Trubisky but was the more effective of the duo. Pickett connected with each of the Steelers' starting receivers as well as tight end Pat Freiermuth for big gains of 24, 17, 16 and 11 yards. He also led an effective two-minute drill that ended in a touchdown pass to Benny Snell with 29 seconds left in the first half. Trubisky is still likely to be the starter in Week 1 against the Bengals, but Pickett made a strong case for the job with his performance Saturday.

Pickett will be the second quarterback to play for the Steelers in Sunday's preseason game at Jacksonville, entering the contest before Mason Rudolph, ESPN.com's Brooke Pryor reports.

Coach Mike Tomlin said he wants to give Pickett "more varsity action" since he already knows what he has in Rudolph. It doesn't necessarily mean the rookie is moving up the depth chart, though that's certainly a possibility this year, down the road if not before Week 1. The division of practice and preseason reps so far points to Trubisky as the probable starter Week 1 at Cincinnati.

Pickett worked mainly with the Steelers' second-team offense during Monday's practice session, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Pickett impressed during his preseason debut Saturday against Seattle, completing 13 of 15 pass attempts for 95 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing three times for 16 yards. He primarily worked with the third-stringers ahead of the preseason opener and was the third quarterback on the field Saturday. However, the team's coaching staff said that the rookie's progression to working with the second-team offense was planned ahead of time rather than being based on his performance. "Yeah, we've got a system in place," offensive coordinator Matt Canada said Monday. "Coach, we've had this thing mapped out since I don't know when. We'll continue to stay right on our plan and see where it goes." The Steelers haven't revealed much about their plans at quarterback early in camp, but Mitch Trubisky appears to be the frontrunner for the starting job. However, Monday's usage signaled that the team could have a plan in place to at least slot Pickett in as the No. 2 option to begin the year if he continu

Pickett completed 13 of 15 pass attempts for 95 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing three times for 16 yards during Saturday's 32-25 preseason win over Seattle.

Pickett worked with the Steelers' third-team offense during Saturday's preseason opener, but he led the team in passing yards and touchdowns. The rookie made some late plays to keep the team in contention in the closing minutes and connected with Tyler Vaughns for a 24-yard touchdown with three seconds remaining. Pickett has appeared to be the Steelers' No. 3 quarterback early in camp, but it's possible that he earns some more opportunities following Saturday's efficient performance.

Pickett moved up to the second-team offense Monday for the first padded practice of Steelers training camp, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Pickett reportedly struggled, albeit in a relatively short session where most of his snaps were hand-offs. The rookie first-round pick has worked with the third-team offense for the most part so far, with Mitchell Trubisky leading the starters and Mason Rudolph handling second-team work. Pickett could enter Week 1 as a gameday inactive if Rudolph outperforms him this summer.

Pickett has been the third QB through drills at training camp, behind presumed Week 1 starter Mitchell Trubisky and fourth-year pro Mason Rudolph, John Luciew of PennLive.com reports.

Rudolph already has two years of experience with OC Matt Canada but has thrown for only 2,366 yards, 16 TDs and 11 INTs on 384 career attempts (6.2 YPA). The Steelers did go 5-4-1 in his starts filling in for Ben Roethlisberger over the past three years, so it isn't a given that Pickett eclipses Rudolph by Week 1, even with a clear advantage in athleticism (and draft status). The bigger question, of course, is when the rookie first-round pick will get his shot to start, which largely depends on the performance and health of likely Week 1 starter Mitchell Trubisky. The Steelers have deployed Trubisky as their first-team QB since the spring, now continuing the trend in the opening days of training camp. Pickett will have a chance to shake up the competition Aug. 13 when the Steelers host the Seahawks in their preseason opener.