Steelers Kenny Picket answer questions after september 24 win over Raiders in Las Vegas.
Kenny Pickett vehemently refuted claims that he declined to start as backup quarterback behind Mason Rudolph during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30-23 victory against Seattle on Sunday, claiming he felt as though his reputation had been attacked.
Before practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday morning, Pickett responded to the accusations.
“This week, there was no discussion about me being a (number) two quarterback,” Pickett stated. “I was supposed to start and play if I was well enough to play and the trainers and coaches thought I looked well enough to play.
“If they thought I wasn’t going to dress and suit up for the game, which they thought I wasn’t,”
For the second straight game, Rudolph’s backup was Mitch Trubisky. Meanwhile, Pickett had to have tightrope surgery to treat a severe ankle injury that forced him to miss his fourth straight game.Mason Rudolph On Monday, just one day after Rudolph guided the Steelers to their second consecutive victory, which kept them in the running for the playoffs going into the season finale against Baltimore, there were claims on social media that Pickett refused to be the starting number-two quarterback.
Pickett remarked, “I’m disappointed to see that without any proof or basis of it,” feeling that it was a personal attack on his character.
When playing Seattle, Pickett said he had little control over whether Trubisky or he would be the backup.
He remarked, “I feel like I would have had to go in there earlier than they wanted me to if Mason had not played well.” That is the actual state of affairs. They didn’t want to push it and try to have me suit up and go in there given where I was in my recuperation.
When the Steelers play the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, Pickett said he has been cleared to start as quarterback number two.
Four weeks after the surgery, “they feel good for me to dress and be the two,” he remarked. “Well, I’ll be the two and prepare for Baltimore by doing whatever needs to be done.”
Pickett was medically cleared to play, according to coach Mike Tomlin, but “clarity didn’t come until later in the week, and it was about the distribution of reps and who was best prepared and positioned to help us win,” the coach said on Monday.
If he had been cleared sooner, Pickett said he would have started against Seattle.
“I was going to start playing or, if they didn’t think I was healthy enough or talented enough to do that, I was going to be the three and not wear clothes,” he declared.
While Pickett acknowledges that Tomlin is giving Rudolph his third straight start, he expressed disappointment that Rudolph will not be the starting quarterback with the Steelers’ playoff chances in jeopardy. If the Steelers defeat Baltimore on Saturday afternoon and either Buffalo or Jacksonville lose against Miami or Tennessee on Sunday, it would be the simplest route for them to qualify for the playoffs.
“In the most important moments of the game, you want the ball as a competitor,” he stated. “In the most important games of the season, I want the ball.” That is the goal for which you strive. As they say, “one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity,” and Mason did a good job playing there.
“I’m so proud of Mason, everything he’s accomplished, and the work our team is doing. Now that I’m well again, it’s my responsibility to be his backup and to be prepared to leave if something goes wrong so I can keep helping him the way I have.
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