After a ton of speculation this offseason as to who would be the team’s starting quarterback, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Monday that former Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will be the team’s starting quarterback.
That depth chart surprisingly listed Mason Rudolph as the team’s No.2 quarterback over rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, but it appears that they have had a change of heart just one day after this announcement.
According to Steelers’ Director of Communications Burt Lauten, the team has released an updated depth chart on Tuesday that shows Pickett as the No.2 quarterback instead of Rudolph, who has been sent down to the No.3 QB position.
Updated #Steelers Depth Chart for Week 1 at CIN. HC Mike Tomlin will address this version as well as other depth chart positions (previously announced) during his Noon press conference today. It will be streamed live on https://t.co/w2jW1ahowX & on all of the team's platforms. pic.twitter.com/9JKzgjYZJ7
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) September 6, 2022
Head coach Mike Tomlin discussed the change to the depth chart regarding the two backup quarterbacks on Tuesday and revealed that the initial depth chart was a “clerical error” and that Pickett should have been the No.2 quarterback.
Mike Tomlin about the “clerical error” that had Kenny Pickett at No. 3 quarterback. pic.twitter.com/eLczkSmYww
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) September 6, 2022
Tomlin added that despite being the primary backup to long-time quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph will not suit up for the team’s opening day game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
It seems like a pretty big mistake to list someone in the wrong spot on the official depth chart to begin the season, and many have taken to social media to echo those sentiments.
There's significance to Kenny Pickett being second, and not third, on the depth chart with the Steelers. Means he'll dress on game day, and that the coaches feel comfortable with him as the guy they put in in a pinch.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 6, 2022
Congrats to Kenny Pickett, who only needed 19 extra hours to earn the QB2 spot! https://t.co/A5rQg7oCEm
— Zachary Krueger (@ZK_FFB) September 6, 2022
So uh, Kenny Pickett is now the QB2 for the #Steelers. Mason Rudolph was QB2 for a day. https://t.co/j4ky1xoCcm
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) September 6, 2022
Kenny Pickett #2 after all? Our national nightmare is over. https://t.co/vaUtp08mOD
— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) September 6, 2022
Weird times for those who didn't think it was weird that the first-round pick who'd been the No. 2 quarterback in both practices and games for like three weeks was listed as the No. 3.
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) September 6, 2022
Pickett being named the No.2 quarterback was mostly expected, which is what made yesterday’s announcement one that certainly surprised most people.
This could put pressure on Trubisky should he struggle to begin the season considering the Steelers decided to take Pickett over every other quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft in the first round.
