Kenny Pickett 'snubbed' for Baltimore's Tyler Huntley as Pro Bowl replacement — and it's not going over well in Pittsburgh

Maybe someday, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett will get to a Pro Bowl.

He’s a first-round pick. As a rookie, the Pitt grad won six games as a starter after the bye to help the Steelers to a 7-2 record down the stretch. Plus, he only threw one interception during that time.

However, even the most optimistic Steelers supporter wasn’t complaining about the AFC Pro Bowl roster being constructed without Pickett’s name on it. I mean, he totaled only seven touchdown passes in 13 games, with a 76.7 passer rating and a 6.2-yard average per attempt.

No one was going to take to Twitter and try to lobby Pickett into the Pro Bowl festivities with stats like that.

Until Tuesday.

That’s when Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley was named to the list as an injury replacement for Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen.

In just six games as a replacement for Lamar Jackson, Huntley threw for only 658 yards (a 5.9-yard average per attempt) and had a measly two passing touchdowns and a 77.2 passer rating.

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Even running the ball, Huntley had only 43 attempts for 137 yards (3.2 yards per carry) and one touchdown.

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Huntley’s two touchdown passes this season are the fewest for a quarterback selected to the Pro Bowl since the 1970 merger. The previous low was six touchdown passes by the Philadelphia Eagles’ Mike Boryla in 1975.

If that’s not esteemed Pro Bowl company, then I don’t know what is.

I’m sure Steelers fans would’ve been offended at the notion of a Baltimore Raven QB with stats like those being on the AFC team at all, let alone in front of Pickett. So, they vented on Twitter with some Steelers media members as well.

Tyler Huntley: 658 pass yards, 2 TD, 3 INT, 137 rush yards, 1 rush TD, 77.2 QB rating

Kenny Pickett: 2404 pass yards, 7 TD, 9 INT, 237 rush yards, 3 rush TD, 76.7 QB rating

Pickett must’ve declined the Pro Bowl invite, right? #Steelers

— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) January 31, 2023

Kenny Pickett far more deserving of a Pro Bowl alternate spot than Tyler Huntley.

— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) January 31, 2023

Kenny Pickett after finding out Tyler Huntley made the Pro Bowl over him. pic.twitter.com/S2hJH7CE9R

— Fratletes Podcast (@FratletesPod) January 31, 2023

@GOFORTHE2 you all are forgetting about Kenny Pickett. He had a better than Tyler Huntley.

— Tom (@Tom99_66) February 1, 2023

someone please tell me how huntley made the pro bowl over pickett…

— averie (@averiemarino) January 31, 2023

This is all happening because Patrick Mahomes is headed to the Super Bowl and can’t participate. Allen’s elbow is still bothering him, and Joe Burrow opted out. Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa are both dealing with injuries.

So, the AFC QB trio at the Pro Bowl will be Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars), Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) and Huntley. I might even put Pickett in over Carr after what happened on Christmas Eve at Acrisure Stadium when the two quarterbacks squared off against each other.

But I refuse to get fired up about this. I mean, it’s the Pro Bowl. And it’s not even a game anymore. It more like a skills tournament.

The “fun” will take place in Las Vegas, starting Thursday. It will end Sunday. Action opens with five skills contests. Sunday will see three more skills contests, and the two conferences will square off during the two flag football games that will be held and broadcast Sunday.

Wait. Can Matt Canada be the offensive coordinator? If so, then I do want Pickett in the Pro Bowl contests, because I want to see him play quarterback with the likes of Ja’Marr Chase, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs on the roster under Canada’s direction. I want to see if Canada would still run everything short of the sticks in hopes of run-after-the-catch yards.

Even in flag football. Even with those guys as the targets.

If Pickett isn’t taking part in the contest instead of Huntley by Thursday, I am going to stand by my principles and boycott watching the Pro Bowl.

I know. Bold, right? You’re proud of me. I get it. I can feel it through the screen as you read this.

What’s wrong is wrong. And playing the Pro Bowl with Tyler Huntley instead of Kenny Pickett is just flat-out wrong.

Actually, playing this farce at all is wrong, regardless of who the quarterbacks are.