Insider: Steelers' Mason Rudolph 'is still the second-string quarterback' over Kenny Pickett

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Kenny Pickett still sits third on the depth chart behind free-agent signing Mitchell Trubisky and career backup Mason Rudolph, and the first-year pro likely will have to wait until long into the upcoming regular season or 2023 to be given the figurative keys to the offense. However, even skeptics would have to admit that all three Pittsburgh signal-callers played well in Saturday's 32-25 preseason-opening victory over the Seattle Seahawks. 

While Trubisky completed four of seven attempts for 63 yards with a touchdown, Rudolph hit on nine of 15 throws for 93 yards and a score. Pickett, who allegedly "may not be ready to play exhibitions yet" as recently as last week, connected on 13-of-15 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. 

As good as the 24-year-old looked against Seattle's backups, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE reminded everybody to keep expectations realistic heading into this coming Saturday's exhibition matchup at the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

"I think all three quarterbacks played pretty well. I think the overreaction to Pickett is predictable but no less disgusting," Madden remarked on the "Madden Monday" podcast, per Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I don’t think it changes the Steelers' timetable, even one little bit. I think that Rudolph is still the second-string quarterback." 

Benz, meanwhile, dismissed an idea routinely floated out there throughout the summer that the Steelers are "showcasing" Rudolph to teams looking to acquire a veteran quarterback before September. Madden added that Pittsburgh is "better off" keeping the 27-year-old on the roster into the fall months. 

"You aren’t opening (much) cap space ($3 million, $1.04 million in dead space)," Madden explained. "You are not getting a high draft pick. You aren’t adding a player with the salary cleared. You are just better off having him. The best thing for the Steelers this year is that they keep all three quarterbacks for the entirety of the season and then make decisions from there." 

It's widely assumed Trubisky would have to fall on his face at Jacksonville and against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 28 to lose the starting gig. For better or for worse, it seems that the backup job remains Rudolph's to lose to Pickett over the next couple of weeks.