Steelers make it ‘official’ via NFL-mandated depth chart: Mitch Trubisky the QB1

The Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday released their first official depth chart for the 2022 season. While the document carries little real meaning for who plays when the games count, it did contain some notable news — and even some surprises.

First things first, at the position that dominates the conversation this year after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers officially named Mitch Trubisky their starting quarterback. Of course, this is only as things stand on the Aug. 5 release date; depth charts are a league requirement but hold no obligation to the team to follow them. Still, it’s the first official declaration by the Steelers that their QB1 is Trubisky, who has taken almost all of the first-team reps through eight training camp practices.

It is not uncommon in the NFL (and all levels of football) for a coach to use an “OR” designation when a position is up for grabs or a competition for it is in a dead heat. Coach Mike Tomlin apparently elected not to go that route and instead tabbed Trubisky the “starter.”

As the quarterback debate turns. Via @C_AdamskiTrib https://t.co/IK3JfwlbBU

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 5, 2022

Mason Rudolph was listed on the second team with rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett the No. 3 quarterback.

The only rookie on the first team was the Steelers’ second-round pick, George Pickens. Pickens joined Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, as expected, as designated “starting” wide receivers. Pickens clearly during camp has been one of the Steelers’ top three wide receivers, but Tomlin is like most coaches in that he often is loathe to praise a rookie too much in lieu of making them more “earn” their spots.

The only position on offense with a true one-on-one position battle was left guard, where incumbent starter Kevin Dotson was given an “OR” along with 2021 starting center Kendrick Green. Green was moved to guard after the Steelers signed Mason Cole to play center.

On defense, the most eyebrow-raising designation was the “OR” between Devin Bush and Robert Spillane at left inside linebacker. Bush is a former No. 10 overall pick; Spillane an undrafted player who was released by the Tennessee Titans in 2019 and was mostly a special-teamer until Bush suffered a torn ACL in 2020. Bush is back healthy but has been splitting reps with Spillane most of camp.

It could be ascertained that Arthur Maulet is a surprise member of the first team at nickel. After all, Levi Wallace and Ahkello Witherspoon were signed to starter-caliber contracts this past spring, and Cameron Sutton is in his sixth season as a contributor to the Steelers defense. Wallace and Witherspoon were listed as “OR” for the first-team left cornerback; Sutton was listed on the right side with James Pierre as the top backup.

Functionally, though, Sutton is a candidate to move to the nickel spot when the Steelers deploy three cornerbacks (and they most often do), with Wallace and Witherspoon on the outside. But Maulet has been taking many first-team reps in training camp, and he is a favorite of the coaching staff.

Two other spots where there was at least some question about the first-teamers were answered: Terrell Edmunds maintains the “starter” at strong safety ahead of Damontae Kazee, and free-agent signee Larry Ogunjobi is designated as the starting defensive end ahead of a handful of other viable candidates.

Ogunjobi has not yet practiced fully, in part because he had offseason surgery. Kazee — a spring add to the roster — has been playing first-team free safety in camp while Minkah Fitzpatrick has been out because of a wrist injury.

The Steelers open their preseason schedule at home Aug. 13 against the Seattle Seahawks.

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