Rookie Kenny Pickett leads Steelers to edge of victory in NFL debut

Kenny Pickett wanted to do two things in making his NFL debut Sunday: play with an edge and get a win.

He certainly achieved the former, even if he would have prioritized the latter.

“I just play with an edge. That’s something that I wanted to bring to the table,” Pickett said after playing the second half for the Pittsburgh Steelers in what ended up a 24-20 loss to the New York Jets. “I do not like to lose. This is not a good feeling.

“I don’t want it to be a familiar feeling, so I definitely want to get back out there and get a victory, get us back on track. So I think a little bit of an edge to me. I want that to rub off on everybody. I want us to have an attitude when it’s out there on the field.”

If demonstrative body language, uninhibited touchdown celebrations and trash-talking opponents are any indication, Pickett brought an edge to his first regular-season snaps as an NFL quarterback.

Pickett isn’t necessarily implying his “play with an edge” attitude equates to a so-called “gunslinger” mentality with his throws. But if his first stat line in the pros is any indication, Pickett’s “edge” went far beyond him spiking the ball after a touchdown run or getting in the face of Jets defensive lineman Bryce Hall after Hall hit him after a throw.

None of Pickett’s 13 pass attempts fell incomplete. Ten were completions — and three were intercepted.

“We made plays, but the turnovers killed us,” said Pickett, the former first-round pick and Pitt star. “It’s definitely on me, and I have to improve.”

The transfer of power at QB by coach Mike Tomlin was an understated one — “Coach T came in at halftime and said I was going in.” Pickett was in charge for five possessions: two ended in short rushing touchdowns by him, but the other three ended with interceptions (albeit the third was a desperation heave into the end zone).

Pickett averaged more than 9 yards per attempt with 120 passing yards, including completions of 27 and 26 yards to fellow rookie George Pickens. In addition to the 1- and 2-yard touchdown sneaks and a 2-yard sneak on a fourth-and-1 early in his first series in the game, Pickett had a 7-yard scramble on a third-and-6 late in the third quarter.

“I thought he did some good things,” Tomlin said. “I thought there was some energy there. We scored some touchdowns. But obviously we also turned the ball over.”

After Trubisky managed to lead the Steelers to only four offensive touchdowns in his 42 drives as quarterback this season, the Steelers had two touchdowns during the first three series under Pickett (albeit one capped what was only a 4-yard drive). Seventeen minutes into his tenure, Pickett took over the Steelers’ team lead in touchdowns scored (two).

“He came in and did a great job,” Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “ … He’s got a competitor’s mindset. I saw him talking trash to their D-linemen. They hit him one time, and he got up after the rushing touchdown. He provided the juice when he came in. I’m looking forward to seeing him grow.”

Said receiver Diontae Johnson: “When (Pickett) came in, we were more efficient. You could see the energy. He played with swag.”

As a Heisman Trophy finalist who led Pitt to their first conference championship in program history last year, Pickett didn’t need to win over the Acrisure Stadium crowd. Fans had been chanting for him during the first half and erupted wildly when he walked onto the field for the first offensive possession of the third quarter.

Pickett’s teammates, though, didn’t have the history of goodwill Pickett had garnered among the city at large. His showing Sunday, however, seemed to leave little doubt he has won them over.

“He’s a gamer,” tight end Pat Freiermuth said. “That’s why they drafted him in the first round is to make those plays. He’s going to stand in the pocket and deliver and win games.”

Except on Sunday, when Pickett didn’t win a game. Even if the blame for the defeat would fall moreso on a defense that blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, Pickett’s interceptions (particularly, the second one) played a role in the loss, too. And that soured what otherwise would have been a memorable debut.

“I wanted to win more than anything,” Pickett said. “So I don’t know what I proved to anybody. But we didn’t win. That’s one thing we didn’t do. That’s my only focus.”

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