The 2023 season has largely been one to forget for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. He’s gone through multiple injuries, a coordinator change and loud criticism in the media.
Now entering the regular season finale, Pickett is dealing with a report and additional speculation that he “refused” to serve as the team’s backup quarterback in Week 17.
“Just got told that Pickett 100 percent refused to be the backup,” Pittsburgh sports personality Mark Madden wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on January 1. “That the Steelers writers know that but won’t write it.”
In response, Pickett strongly denied this to reporters on January 2, saying he did not want to be his successor.
“I’ve seen coverage that I felt was an attack on my character and personality, but that’s not the case.
“I’m even coming at it from the player’s point of view,” via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic Pickett told reporters.
“This week, there was no talk of me being a backup QB in the second-quarter sense.
If I’m healthy enough to play and the coaches and staff decide I’m good enough to play, Then I’ll start and play.
” Pickett’s inactivity in Week 17 was due to a health condition.
“I’m very skeptical that it was 100 percent Mike Tomlin’s decision for Kenny Pickett not to dress yesterday,” Kaboly told Steelers Wire’s Allison on the Fan Morning Show.
Spoken through Koehler.
Questions about Pickett’s availability arose after the second-year quarterback was inactive for Week 17’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Pickett underwent ankle surgery on Dec.
4, and he hasn’t played since.