Kenny Pickett began the primary 5 video games of the 2024 season in Russell Wilson’s place in some alternate Steelers timeline. In the precise timeline, Pickett remains to be a backup, solely to Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia as a substitute of Wilson in Pittsburgh. And Aditi Kinkhabwala continues to insist that he's now an Eagle as a result of the Steelers broke their promise. She talked about it considerably in passing on 93.7 The Fan yesterday whereas discussing the Russell Wilson state of affairs.
“Justin Fields has played well, but he has not set the world on fire. I think it’s very fair that Mike Tomlin wants to see what he has in Russell Wilson”, she mentioned. “Whatever the reason was, there’s a reason that he promised him the starting job when, quite frankly, Kenny Pickett was still on his roster and two weeks prior he had told Kenny Pickett, ‘We’re going to do everything to support you better than we have since you’ve been here’”.
The Steelers chosen Kenny Pickett twentieth general within the 2022 NFL Draft with the intention that he can be their new franchise quarterback. Not even two years later, they traded him in a choose swap shortly after signing Russell Wilson. And then they traded for Fields, who has been the beneficiary of Wilson’s harm as a substitute of Pickett.
Pickett posted a 7-4 file final season within the 11 video games he began and completed earlier than injuring his ankle. After therapeutic, the Steelers determined to proceed with Mason Rudolph, and Tomlin mentioned after the season that Pickett would face competitors for his beginning job.
He in all probability thought they might re-sign Rudolph and that will be his competitors. Instead, they sought out Russell Wilson after the Denver Broncos lower him unfastened, a variable they couldn’t have counted on. But Kinkhabwala maintains the Steelers made guarantees to Pickett simply earlier than all that occurred. One wonders what the previous 5 video games may need regarded like if he had been nonetheless on the roster. But both manner, the dialog is now between Wilson and Fields.
Tomlin mentioned Russell Wilson was in “pole position” all through the offseason. Then he mainly had one good drive within the preseason after lacking most of coaching camp. Even now, he's nonetheless QB1 on the depth chart, and lots of marvel if he received’t be on the sector inside the subsequent two weeks. He returned to full participation in follow yesterday, an vital step in that course.
A pair weeks again, Tomlin mentioned he hadn’t up to date the depth chart to mirror Fields because the starter just because he didn’t want to. Others thought there was some technique concerned. If he had been to make a “change” now, he wouldn’t be demoting Fields. He would merely be taking part in his wholesome starter.
The starter who was to be the starter all alongside, from the second the Steelers started talking to him. That’s what most imagine, anyway. There are different reporters who declare the Steelers by no means made any guarantees to Kenny Pickett. Chances are it’s all primarily based on which supply mentioned what on what day.
But at this level, it hardly issues, as we’re on the cusp of the Fields and Wilson debate. So why are we nonetheless speaking about Kenny Pickett, you ask? Well, as a result of folks hold studying about it, even those who don’t need to, apparently. So for those who’re on the lookout for somebody to blame for this text, look within the mirror.
