Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett will get his first career start on Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers as the team goes on the road to face the Buffalo Bills, which has the NFL’s top pass defense.
And the last rookie quarterback to earn his first career start against the league’s best defense against the pass was another Steeler, Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh won on that day in 2004, 13-3 at the Miami Dolphins. It was the start of 14 straight wins for Roethlisberger and the Steelers.
Like the last quarterback it selected in the first round, Pittsburgh (1-3) hopes that Pickett can provide a similar spark.
“We’re optimistic and thoughtful in our thought process. We believe in Kenny,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “Kenny has shown us maturity at every point throughout this process.”
The first quarterback taken in the 2022 draft, the Steelers selected Pickett with the 20th overall pick. The University of Pittsburgh product saw his first bit of regular season action last week, relieving starter Mitchell Trubisky in the second half. Pickett ran for two touchdowns and completed 10 of 13 passes for 120 yards, but he also threw three interceptions as the Steelers lost 24-20 at home to the New York Jets.
While the Bills (3-1) are heavily favored in the matchup, Pickett’s confidence hasn’t wavered.
“I want to raise the level of play of everyone around me,” Pickett said. “I’ve got to do my job. I have 100 percent trust and confidence that every guy in that huddle will do their job. I was just raised that way. Everyone has to just own their business and own their job, and we’ll be alright.”
Buffalo is coming off a 23-20 win in Baltimore against the Ravens, which saw reigning league MVP Josh Allen throw and rush for touchdowns as he piled up 283 yards of total offense. The Bills are 21-1 in games in which Allen has at least one rushing and one passing touchdown.
And the Bills pass defense remained stout against Lamar Jackson. Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer intercepted a pair of passes, and the Bills had two sacks as they held Jackson to just 144 yards through the air on 29 attempts — an average of 4.97 yards per pass attempt.
Buffalo has seven interceptions this season, which is tied for the league lead. Through four games, the Bills have allowed just 603 passing yards — the least in the NFL.
“Just to see our guys take it one play at a time and continue to make plays, it speaks to the character of our players,” Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said.
Part of Buffalo’s defense are two players Pickett knows well in Damar Hamlin and Dane Jackson, two of his college teammates at Pitt.
“We will definitely probably jersey swap at the end of the game,” Hamlin said.
Pittsburgh will be without TJ Watt (pectoral) on Sunday as the edge rusher is still on the IR. The Steelers are 0-7 when Watt doesn’t play.
Additionally for the Steelers, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring) and safeties Terrell Edmunds (concussion) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Cornerbacks Cameron Sutton (groin) and Levi Wallace (foot) and defensive tackles Cameron Heyward (elbow) and Chris Wormley (ankle) were limited in practice. Rookie receiver Calvin Austin III returned to practice this week after suffering a foot injury in training camp.
The Bills were without nine players in practice on Wednesday, including Poyer (ribs), edge rusher Von Miller (rest) and tight end Dawson Knox (foot). Four other players were limited, including defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle), while receiver Gabe Davis (ankle) and corner Cam Lewis (forearm) were full participants.
–Field Level Media
