Steelers Signed Russell Wilson To Help Kenny Pickett Breakthrough And Reignite His Competitive Fire: 'It Did The Opposite'

The Pittsburgh Steelers pinned their hopes on Kenny Pickett, envisioning him as the beloved future face of the franchise. Initially promising, Pickett demonstrated a knack for winning games in big moments. However, his tenure with the Steelers proved unexpectedly brief, leaving fans disheartened.

Upon the Steelers' acquisition of Russell Wilson on a one-year deal at the veteran minimum, reports surfaced of Pickett's discontent. He promptly requested a trade, which the Steelers granted by sending him to the Philadelphia Eagles.

According to ESPN's Brooke Pyror, a source revealed that the Steelers had hoped Wilson's arrival would reignite the passion they saw in Pickett when they drafted him. There was optimism that Wilson could help Pickett realize his full potential. Regrettably or maybe even luckily, this optimism failed to materialize.

“One team source said that adding Wilson 'would have been a benefit to Kenny,' and the pursuit of Wilson would 'kick Kenny into gear' and reignite the competitive fire that had made him so attractive to Pittsburgh in the draft evaluation process. Instead, it did the opposite.”

When Pickett suffered an injury against the Arizona Cardinals, the timing couldn't have been more unfortunate. He had just completed his first game without Matt Canada, the much-criticized offensive coordinator believed by many to have hindered Pickett's performance. Despite not throwing a touchdown in that game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Pickett showcased glimpses of his potential, racking up 278 passing yards and completing an impressive 72.7% of his passes.

The Bengals matchup offered Steelers fans a glimmer of hope that Pickett might have been held back by Canada. They witnessed Pickett effectively involving tight end Pat Freiermuth and making throws he hadn't previously attempted. Prior to his injury against the Cardinals, Pickett appeared poised for another strong performance, having already amassed 70 passing yards and completed seven of his 10 attempts. Unfortunately, the untimely injury effectively ended his tenure with the Steelers.

Upon his return to full health, Mason Rudolph had taken the reins and was flourishing. The team rallied around Rudolph, playing with renewed vigor as he led them to three consecutive victories and a postseason berth. Despite his recovery, Pickett found himself relegated to the sidelines, with reports suggesting he refused to back up Rudolph prior to a game against the Seattle Seahawks. While these reports were met with some conflicting accounts, many sources corroborated their validity.

As Rudolph departed in free agency and Pickett was traded, the quarterback landscape underwent rapid transformation. With Wilson assuming the starting role, the Steelers made another significant move by trading for Justin Fields to serve as his backup. While some pundits speculate that Fields could potentially challenge Wilson for the starting position, the quarterback room has unquestionably undergone significant changes in a short span of time.

Former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Gave Up On Pittsburgh

As Pryor highlighted in her report, the Steelers held strong belief in Wilson's potential to aid Pickett's development. They envisioned a quarterback competition involving Wilson, hoping it would rekindle the same drive they initially saw in Pickett during his evaluation. Unfortunately, this scenario failed to materialize, prompting Pickett to seek a fresh start elsewhere.

Pickett's expectation of being the starter seemed unrealistic, especially considering he won't hold that role with the Eagles. Despite being afforded ample opportunities in a non-competitive quarterback room, he failed to convincingly stake his claim as the starter. While his injury was unfortunate, prior to that, he hadn't demonstrated enough to justify the Steelers placing unwavering faith in him.

The Steelers, seizing the opportunity to acquire Wilson, felt it was too compelling to ignore, hoping Pickett would comprehend their decision. However, Pickett's departure after just two seasons suggests he felt differently. As he begins his journey with the Eagles, Steeler Nation will undoubtedly monitor his progress, albeit with a lingering disappointment. Pickett's departure has left a bitter taste in the mouths of Steelers fans for now.