Steelers ready to go 'full steam ahead' with Mitch Trubisky at quarterback

Mitch Trubisky had a modest accomplishment Sunday when he threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson with less than five minutes left in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 24-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

It was Trubisky’s second scoring toss of the season, the other coming in his previous relief appearance against Jacksonville on Oct. 29.

It speaks volumes about the state of the Steelers’ quarterback play that those two touchdowns by Trubisky are one more than starter Kenny Pickett has thrown in the same span of games. Since the Steelers returned from their bye Oct. 22, Pickett has registered one touchdown pass, the game-winning throw to Johnson on Nov. 2 against the Tennessee Titans, in eight starts.

Trubisky’s two scores came in relief.

With Pickett undergoing surgery Monday to, as coach Mike Tomlin said, “accelerate the healing process,” after he sustained a high ankle sprain in the second quarter against Arizona, the Steelers will turn to Trubisky on Thursday night when the New England Patriots visit Acrisure Stadium.

It will be the 29-year-old veteran’s first start in almost a year, since he led the Steelers to a 24-16 victory at Carolina last December.

Tomlin didn’t specify how much time Pickett might miss, and he isn’t looking beyond the game against New England, which, like Arizona, brings a 2-10 record into the game.

“I’m comfortable with our ability to prepare and win this football game,” Tomlin said at his weekly news conference. “I kind of live one week at a time.”

After Pickett aggravated a right ankle injury on a third-down scramble that fell short of the end zone Sunday, Trubisky completed 11 of 17 attempts for 117 yards and the 2-yard touchdown to Johnson that ended a 10-play, 75-yard drive and established the final score.

Although Pickett’s run of games without throwing a touchdown pass extended to four, he also continued his streak of attempts without throwing an interception. Pickett has gone eight starts and 218 passes without a turnover. Trubisky threw two interceptions against Jacksonville, illustrating the positives and negatives each quarterback provides.

“We have full confidence in Mitch to execute the game plan,” tight end Pat Freiermuth said. “Full steam ahead.”

Trubisky impressed Tomlin with how he handled his demotion after the first month of the 2022 season when Pickett replaced him as the Steelers’ starter. It was one reason the Steelers signed Trubisky to a contract extension in the offseason.

“He has an outgoing and welcoming personality,” Tomlin said. “He’s a good communicator. He’s been a franchise quarterback before. He’s comfortable in those shoes. He doesn’t behave like a backup that is being elevated. I think those are some of the things that make him attractive.”

And it’s the volume of preparation given to Trubisky as the No. 2 quarterback that gives him the advantage over Mason Rudolph, who has served as the emergency third quarterback on game days this season.

“He gets most of the work,” Tomlin said. “You can’t give work to three guys. Most of Mason Rudolph’s work comes on the scout team offense. Mitch has been positioned to get the work.”

Rudolph, though, would be next in line to play in the event of an injury to Trubisky or ineffective play as the Steelers, the No. 5 seed in the AFC hierarchy, try to earn a playoff spot while Pickett is sidelined.

Rudolph was poised to leave the Steelers in free agency, then changed his mind and accepted an offer to be the No. 3 quarterback rather than wait and see if any jobs opened after training camp started. His last start was more than two years ago when Ben Roethlisberger missed a game against Detroit because of covid-19.

“He’s a good idea guy, a good sounding board for guys that are in (the game),” Tomlin said. “It’s a real comfortable thing for us with his presence and him being elevated.”

Tomlin would prefer not to need such contingency plans as he awaits the return of Pickett, who has exited five games early because of injury in less than two seasons. This is the second time Pickett has undergone in-season ankle surgery. The other was to his left ankle when he played at Pitt.

“It got aggravated, and we just did what was necessary in terms of addressing it,” Tomlin said. “I don’t know if we’re viewing it as anything chronic.”