Another day, another round of first-team reps for Mitch Trubisky.

Unofficially, that runs the streak of 35 consecutive organized team activity and minicamp sessions, training-camp practices and preseason games in which Trubisky has operated as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB1.

It’s been just about that many days, too, that coach Mike Tomlin declines to acknowledge what is painfully obvious to everyone: that Trubisky will be the Steelers’ starter for the regular-season opener Sept. 11.

That was the case again after Tuesday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. But at least this time, Tomlin seemed to concede that even if he refuses to publicly acknowledge it, the decision has been made.

“I’m just not making any announcements,” he said, “because it’s fruitless for us. We’ve just got work ahead of us and so that’s kind of not on our agenda, to make any announcements to feed the beast.

“We don’t care about the beast.”

Apparently, not even Trubisky or his closest family and friends want to feed that beast, either.

Has Trubisky asked Tomlin if he’ll start the opener in Cincinnati?

“No, never asked him once.”

Is anyone in Trubisky’s life asking Trubisky about it?

“Nobody asks me. Zero.”

“They know if Coach T doesn’t say it,” Trubisky added, “there’s no point in even asking me because when he says it, that’s when it’ll need to be said.”

As if anyone doubted pic.twitter.com/kf9dIvwGSN

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 30, 2022

So, on the Steelers go, less than 12 days from their season opener, operating with Trubisky taking virtually every first-team rep (Trubisky confirmed he did so Tuesday) but yet with no one outwardly acting as if it’s anything other than a horribly kept secret.

Tomlin, though, said that’s not a distraction.

“Not hardly.”

Trubisky agrees.

“It’s not a distraction to us,” he said. “To us, this week is just about going out there, and whoever goes out there, just putting in the work and continuing to get better. When it needs to be discussed, it’ll be discussed. ‘Coach T’ handles his business when he needs to, and we just go about ours as well.”

There had been some speculation that Tuesday — the first practice after the end of the preseason schedule — would be the day Tomlin would finally concede the Steelers have a starter at the sport’s most important position.

Rookie first-round Kenny Pickett and longtime backup Mason Rudolph have performed admirably during camp, but coaches never demoted Trubisky. No matter the quarterback pecking order on a given day, no matter “The Beast” of media and fans that needs to be fed, all three dutifully have outwardly displayed the team-first attitude.

“You come in, do your work and do what needs to be done for the team, and you do it to the best of your ability,” Trubisky said. “All the other stuff is just headlines that we have no control over, and we don’t care about. We’re here to work, and we’re here to help the Steelers win.”

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