Such a pairing not at all labored out as meant. Pickett began his rookie season as a backup to Mitchell Trubisky, nevertheless found himself inside the heat of NFL battle by Week 4 when Tomlin known as on him to alternate the struggling Trubisky. From there through the midway degree of the 2023 season, Pickett remained the group’s starter, nevertheless he struggled to look out consistency in every effectivity and availability, with fairly a couple of accidents costing him having fun with time.
In all probability probably the most damning sign that the Pickett interval could also be close to an end obtained right here when Tomlin decided to proceed with veteran backup Mason Rudolph over a healthful Pickett inside the final month of the Steelers’ 2023 season, which seen Rudolph lead Pittsburgh to an unlikely playoff berth. The gathering of events threw all of the quarterback state of affairs into the waters of uncertainty coming into 2024, foremost the Steelers to sign the not too way back launched Wilson in March.
Pittsburgh apparently being intent to begin out Wilson inside the upcoming season has now led to the selection to commerce Pickett. He won’t have a possibility to begin out in Philadelphia, each, the place franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts is firmly entrenched as QB1 coming into 2024.
Pickett’s struggles in Pittsburgh will not ever completely be blamed solely on the quarterback. He spent a season and a half having fun with beneath embattled offensive coordinator Matt Canada, whose ineptitude as a play-caller enraged Steelers followers and ultimately compelled Tomlin to hearth him all through the 2024 season. Pickett confirmed glimpses of fast enchancment inside the post-Canada world, nevertheless wasn’t able to carry on the sector prolonged adequate to indicate it was Canada, not Pickett that was the problem beneath center.
Steelers followers will not ever know the truth, and may as an alternative gear up for a 2024 season with Wilson foremost the easiest way at quarterback. Pickett, within the meantime, will put collectively to hold a clipboard and take in as lots information as attainable from Hurts, head coach Nick Sirianni and the rest of the Eagles in what’s shaping as a lot as be a necessary season for the 2022 NFC champions.