Steelers taking a big risk with Kenny Pickett in training camp

Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is slated to start in the team’s first preseason game on Friday against the Buccaneers.

To play or not to play starting quarterbacks in preseason games? That is the question. The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to do the former with Kenny Pickett, rolling him out as a starter in their first preseason game of the year.

On Friday, the Steelers will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an exhibition match that should feature plenty of second- and third-stringers from both sides.

Each NFL franchise handles preseason games differently, and the Steelers are taking a calculated gamble by choosing to play Pickett and risk injury.

That being said, there’s no report on how long the Steelers plan to keep Pickett out there. If history is any indication, Pittsburgh will let Pickett play a series or two and then most likely pull him from the field.

In the 2022 preseason opener, then-starter Mitchell Trubisky played the first two series before giving way to Mason Rudolph and then-rookie Pickett; Pickett, who was ranked third on the depth chart, ended up playing the most that game.

In 2023, Pickett is clearly being treated as the Steelers’ starter with Trubisky and Rudolph backing him up.

The Steelers’ first-round pick expressed how excited he was to get his feet wet this preseason:

"“I’m on go. I’ll be in there for however long they want me to be. When they pull me, they’ll pull me out. I’m excited to play.”"

Steelers name Kenny Pickett as starting QB in first preseason game

To avoid the risk of injury, the NFL has already reduced the number of preseason games from four to three this year.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Steelers give Pickett rationed snaps in Week 1 and Week 2 of preseason before sitting him in Week 3. That may also apply to the rest of the starting lineup as Pittsburgh will likely treat all their key players similarly.

With the exception of a few teams, the starting quarterback tends to get covered in bubble wrap in the weeks leading up to the start of the regular season. While Bucs’ Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask may jostle for the No. 1 quarterback spot, Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes will probably sit on the bench cheering his team on.

Pickett, the rising star for the Steelers, will get his share of the special treatment, too. Trust Mike Tomlin to prepare Pickett well for his second rodeo without putting him in too much danger.