Are you ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers to bench quarterback Mitch Trubisky in favor of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett? If so, maybe wait at least a few more weeks for your wish to come true.
During the final episode of his weekly television show, host Bob Pompeani essentially asked Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin how much longer he’d be patient with Trubisky if the offense continued to be as inept as they were in the team’s first two regular-season games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively .New England Patriots. Tomlin’s answer, while brief, is not too difficult to decipher.
“We’re two weeks in. I ain’t even close to discussions like that, man,” Tomlin told Pompeani. “I’m more concerned with our collective growth and development and what we’re putting together to achieve victory, and he’s just part of that.”
Obviously, Tomlin’s patience with Trubisky could be severely shortened should the Steelers’ offense take a huge hit against the Cleveland Browns Thursday night, and especially if the quarterback plays extremely poorly. Still, Tomlin doesn’t seem to have considered benching Trubisky in favor of Pickett just yet.
With the Steelers playing on Thursday nights, this competition will be followed by a longer week as the team’s Week Four game does not take place until Sunday, October 2nd. In short, if Tomlin Trubisky pulled the plug after Thursday night’s game, it would allow Pickett some extra prep time. Still, that seems highly unlikely, and even if Trubisky plays his worst game of the season against the Browns.
The Steelers’ offense has only had two touchdowns in the first two games of the 2022 season. Additionally, and with an appropriate nod towards offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the last time the Steelers offensively scored an offensive touchdown in a first quarter of the game was way back in Week 10 of the 2021 regular season against the Detroit Lions. That touchdown was a short pass from quarterback Mason Rudolph to wide receiver James Washington, who is no longer on the team.
Personally, and barring an injury to Trubisky, I still have a feeling Pickett won’t take over as the team’s quarterback until after bye week at the earliest. I think Tomlin will stay with Trubisky for as long as possible. Any wins the Steelers get in the coming weeks could also delay what many believe will inevitably happen sometime this season.