Steelers Make QB Change, Kenny Pickett Done?

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't going back to Kenny Pickett this week.

SI Editorial | Dec 27, 2023

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Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers will head into Week 17 against the Seattle Seahawks with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback, barring any significant change to the health of their second-year QB Kenny Pickett.

After a strong performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, there was a feeling the Steelers would stick with Rudolph for at least another week. But what does it mean if this hot streak continues? Can the Steelers continue to roll with their veteran backup?

The answer is yes. And their justification for why won't be as dramatic as many will make it seem. While some believe it would be "benching" Pickett for Rudolph to continue playing, the team will likely actually go a different route with their reasoning behind the move.

We'll talk about the future later. Right now, the Steelers' only objective is to get to the playoffs and have a shot in the dance. To do that, they'll need to ignore the outside noise about not starting Pickett.