If you’re tired of seeing Mitch Trubisky take meaningful snaps for the Pittsburgh Steelers, then you might want to avoid watching him line up as the starter against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season.
At least for one more week, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft will be the man under center as the Steelers try to right the ship following consecutive home defeats to 2-10 squads.
Kenny Pickett? Still recovering from his ankle injury. Mason Rudolph and Trace McSorley? Still watching from the sidelines.
Brace yourselves, Steelers fans, but Trubisky remains QB1.
Mike Tomlin Makes Pittsburgh’s Plans Clear at Quarterback
Some NFL coaches employ gamesmanship by leaving multiple possibilities open early in the week, essentially forcing the opposition to prepare for numerous sets of skills under center. Mike Tomlin, though, is choosing the straightforward approach as he and the Steelers get ready for a crucial clash with the Colts.
In his Monday press conference, posted on the Steelers’ YouTube channel, Tomlin immediately ruled Pickett out for Sunday’s game. The second-year quarterback is still recovering from surgery to treat his latest ankle injury, suffered on a third-and-goal scramble in the second quarter of the Week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
But the head coach, now operating amid plenty of speculation about his own job status, didn’t stop there.
“Mason [Rudolph] will get an opportunity to get some reps,” he told reporters about whether the third-stringer-turned-second-stringer will get some first-team practice run this week. “… Last week, there were a limited amount of reps for all parties involved, and so he certainly will get more opportunity this week from a preparation standpoint.”
No matter how well those reps go, though, Rudolph won’t be put in a position to supplant Trubisky. When reporters asked if he would be given an opportunity to compete for the starting job, Tomlin shut down any potential quarterback controversy.
“He’ll get an opportunity to get some work, and we’ll evaluate that work and evaluate his readiness,” the head coach explained. “But we’re not opening up competition and things of that nature. It’s just not an environment for that as we work.”
Trubisky Hasn’t Excelled as the Lead Pittsburgh Quarterback
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