Steelers' Kenny Pickett can't win starting job over Mitchell Trubisky without injury?

Now that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett is no longer the lone unsigned first-round selection from the 2022 NFL Draft, fans can go back to discussing the competition between Pickett and free-agent acquisition Mitchell Trubisky that may or may not already be decided roughly one month before training camp sessions open. 

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin admitting during a recent podcast appearance that he is "excited about being uncomfortable" regarding the sport's most important position gave some hope to Pickett supporters that the first-year pro may be able to win the job over Trubisky between today and the end of August. However, Tomlin's words went public following reports that Pickett "has an uphill battle to unseat" Trubisky this summer and that the former Chicago Bears starter will likely be Pittsburgh's QB1 for Week 1.

Steelers insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said during a radio interview this week that "Trubisky will go into the regular season as the starter" "unless something would dictate otherwise, including injury." Dulac repeated that stance while answering fan questions for a piece published Thursday.  

"Besides Trubisky getting hurt in camp, do you seriously think that Pickett can actually go out and do enough in three exhibition games sharing time with (Trubisky and career backup Mason Rudolph) to earn the starting job, or will it just be predetermined that Trubisky will be the starter in Game 1?" a fan asked. 

Dulac answered: "I don't think so, never did, but I'm willing to bet there are fans who think that might happen, or, at least, hope that will happen." 

Rudolph may not be long for the Steelers, as both Dulac and ESPN's Brooke Pryor suggested the 26-year-old could be traded to any would-be buyer, in part so Pickett can begin serving as the team's primary backup option sooner than later. 

For now, though, it seems Pickett is destined to be standing on the sidelines this fall as long as Trubisky is healthy enough to take the field and line up under center.