Inside The Panthers

Kenny Pickett Reaches Career Milestone Against Raiders

Former Pitt Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett shined on national television in Week 3.

Stephen Thompson

Kenny Pickett Reaches Career Milestone Against Raiders
Kenny Pickett Reaches Career Milestone Against Raiders /
In this story:

PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett played the best game of his NFL career in front of a national television audience in primetime during Week 3. 

For the first time since he was drafted with the 21st overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out of Pitt in the 2022 NFL Draft, Pickett threw two touchdown passes in a regular season game and both were needed to help his team get past the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football. 

He got the ball rolling with a 72-yard bomb to fellow second-year pro Calvin Austin III, who went streaking down the middle of the Raiders defense uncovered and reached out to haul in a well-placed ball from Pickett. 

Pickett then hit Patrick Freiermuth in the corner of the endzone to cap a six-play, 81-yard drive with what would turn out to be the game-winning score. He and the offense cashed in an interception from Patrick Peterson - the second of the three Jimmy Garoppolo threw - for a crucial six points in the second half. 

Pickett completed 16 of 28 total passes for 235 yards, his two scores, no interceptions and a 108.5 quarterback rating. He added three rushes for 11 yards for good measure. The Steelers and their 2-1 record now sit atop the AFC North and own the second seed in the AFC overall. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Penalties Cost Pitt Against North Carolina

Pitt Teammates, Coaches Praise Phil Jurkovec's Bounce Back

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back for Pitt Against UNC

Targeting Hit on Phil Jurkovec Sets Off Pitt OL

Pat Narduzzi Provides Injury Update on Phil Jurkovec

Pitt Starting RB Leaves UNC Game with Injury

Published
Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

Home/Football