Steelers QB Kenny Pickett denies controversial rumor

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett spoke with reporters on Tuesday and strongly denied an alarming rumor that claimed he refused to be the backup signal-caller for what became this past Sunday's 30-23 win at the Seattle Seahawks that kept Pittsburgh in the playoff hunt. 

"I saw reports that I feel were attacking, you know, my character and how I am as a person, not even getting to a player's standpoint of it," Pickett explained, as shared by Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "There was no talk of me being a backup quarterback this week in terms of being a two. If I was healthy enough to play, the trainers and coaches felt like I was good enough to play, I was going to start and play. If they believed I was not, which they believed I was not, I was not going to dress and suit up for the game."

Chris Mueller of Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan is among multiple knowledgeable individuals who reported that Pickett, who hasn't played since he aggravated an ankle injury in Week 13 on Dec. 3, "was very unhappy that he wasn't starting against Seattle, and that his being inactive...was a direct result of that." Backup Mason Rudolph guided Pittsburgh to back-to-back victories in Pickett's absence, and Rudolph will start over a medically cleared Pickett for this coming Saturday's must-win game at a Baltimore Ravens side that may rest starters in Week 18.

"So, this week, I am now the two," Pickett said about serving as Rudolph's primary backup against the Ravens. "They feel good four weeks out of the surgery for me to dress and be the two. So, I will be the two and do what I have to do to be ready to go for Baltimore. If there are any other questions about that, I feel I answered it pretty good there."

According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Pickett acknowledged that "one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity." It's unclear what Rudolph's opportunity will mean for the future of Pickett, a 2022 first-round draft pick who essentially has been benched for the biggest game of Pittsburgh's season.