Pickett set to start vs. Raiders, preserve the streak that truly matters

Mitch Trubisky did just fine in Kenny Pickett's stead in Sunday's win over the Panthers.

However, it appears the rookie quarterback will rightfully be retaking his place under center when the Steelers line up against the Raiders Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium.

During his routine Tuesday press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Mike Tomlin gave everything but an official green light for Pickett.

"The concussion component of where he is (at) is behind us. I think he's got to check a box procedurally," Tomlin said. "But if we were to practice today, he would be a full participant."

Even with the upcoming game scheduled for Saturday night instead of Sunday due to the Christmas holiday, the Steelers will be holding practice on their typical Wednesday, Thursday and Friday schedule. Tomlin's comments paves the way for Pickett to reclaim his first-team reps after being limited for the entirety of last week's sessions as he progressed through the NFL's concussion protocol.

After throwing three interceptions in relief of Pickett in Week 14's loss to the Ravens, Trubisky bounced back and produced 179 yards through the air, 8.1 yards per attempt and a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak that capped off an incredible 21-play, 91-yard drive that took 11:43 off the clock. He also helped the offense convert 12 of 16 third downs, which was essential to extending drives and keeping a potent Panthers running game on the sideline.

Most important, Trubisky protected the football. That improved the Steelers' record to 6-1 when they don't turn the ball over this season. Tomlin and Trubisky both emphasized the importance of protecting the football after the game Sunday, and Tomlin did it again after getting a chance to fully digest the victory.

"He did a really good job of taking care of the ball and playing within the game-planned approach that we had prescribed for that opponent," Tomlin said. "He should be congratulated for that."

However, this is still clearly Pickett's offense. If he somehow would have cleared the protocol last week, he would have started at Carolina. While Tomlin certainly makes every decision to try and win the next game on the schedule, he doesn't take any solace in the potential of Pickett learning the game from the perspective of the sidelines.

"My preference is to play and gain the experience associated with the in-helmet perspective of competing," Tomlin said. "I just think where he is in his career, that's the No. 1 ingredient to get better."

That's where the Steelers are now. They're a 6-8 football team. Even if by some miracle they sneak into the playoffs as a 9-8 seventh seed in the AFC, they once again won't get past the Wild Card game. In terms of getting back to the high standard of being a perennial contender for the Super Bowl, that'll have to wait beyond the 2022 season.

But a significant part of that is Pickett's continued growth over the final three games of the season. While interceptions hurt him badly in two games early on this season, the rookie currently has a streak of 129 passes without an interception. That might be the most tangible proof of his growth, and certainly was the largest contributing factor to the team going 3-2 over that stretch, prior to his one pass in the Ravens game.

With all the talk about the team trying to preserve Tomlin's streak of non-losing seasons, Pickett's streak might be more important at this point in time. Not because Pickett needs to keep from turning the ball over in order to properly grow. He will throw another interception again. Perhaps a lot of them, hopefully over the course of a long career.

But that streak better represents what's truly important right now. Pickett's growth as a quarterback is one of the most important developments this season, and a long streak of protecting the football while winning games is a perfect embodiment of it.

Sure, if Pickett can play good enough to lead the charge to a 9-8 finish and a miracle spot in the playoffs, that'll be great for his growth too. Regardless of how the final three games play out in terms of a spot in the playoffs or avoiding a sub-.500 season, getting better is what's important.

The better Pickett gets, most likely the better the Steelers get. At the very least, figuring out the quarterback position this quickly after a future Hall of Fame quarterback steps down is and always has been the best case scenario, regardless of what this team's final record will be in 2022.

Of course, Pickett will need to make sure to stay on the field. The concussion he sustained against Baltimore was his second in eight weeks, which is concerning for any player, but especially a rookie quarterback that isn't afraid to use his legs.

Tomlin's previously stressed the "prudent use" of mobility as means to protect the quarterback. Pickett's also apparently switched to the Riddell Axiom helmet, which is the manufacturer's latest technology for combatting concussions.

If and when Pickett is cleared from concussion protocol, he'll lead a Steelers team that is trying like hell to avoid the franchise's first losing season since 2003 and the first under Tomlin's tenure. Winning Saturday night is another step in getting better.

MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE

• Saturday night will be the culmination of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, with the retiring of Franco Harris' No. 32 jersey as the highlight of the night. It'll come one day after the exact date of the anniversary, but everyone is eager to honor a play that forever impact the Steelers franchise and the NFL, in general.

"It's the most significant play in the history of our game," Tomlin said. "It's just one of those beautiful things in the history of our game. It's humbling to be in close proximity to it, to work for this organization, to understand its impact on this organization, the career that it spawned, Franco's Gold Jacket career. What it did for them that season in terms of changing the trajectory of that season. What it's done for this franchise.

"There are many things that make it the play that it is and the most significant play in the history of our game. It's just an honor to be in proximity to it. To know the man involved. To call Pittsburgh home. It's awesome to be a part of and to witness. But at the same time, we understand that we've got business, we got present day business and the best way we can honor him and that is by performing and so we're going to work extremely hard to prepare ourselves leading up to it."

• Saturday night will be a night of celebration, but it will also be a night where third, fourth or even fifth layers are required. While there isn't snow in the forecast, the temperature is expected to be in the single digits with winds pushing 20 miles per hour or more. It could end up being one of the coldest games in Acrisure Stadium history.

While it comes as no surprise, Tomlin is eager to take on the challenge of playing in this type of an environment.

"I just think that's a beautiful part of December and January football," Tomlin said. "We'll acknowledge that the weather could be significant on Saturday and it could play out in terms of how these two teams come together. But, you know, that's life in the National Football League, and that's specifically life in Pittsburgh. We won't run from that. We'll run to that as we prepare this week."

Don't be surprised if the Steelers practice outdoors every day this week, even with snow in the forecast for Friday.

• As far as preparing for the Raiders, Darren Waller and Foster Moreau were highlighted as significant threats during Tomlin's Las Vegas scouting report. This is where the Steelers' new three-safety look could play a significant factor. It has previously when the Steelers held Hayden Hurst to two catches for 28 yards in Week 11 and limited Mark Andrews to two catches for only 17 yards in Week 14.

I asked Tomlin if the three-safety package is the main way to neutralize tight ends that pose a significant threat through the air.

"That's just one tool in the toolbox. We have several," Tomlin said. "Personnel specialization component of ball is something that just has evolved, and evolved in a big way globally over the last several years. And we're participants in it. The package that you mentioned is just an example of it."

• After having 48 hours to digest the win over the Panthers, the battles won on both sides of the trenches is what really stood out to Tomlin. The success in the running game helped extend drives and control the clock for more than 36 minutes.

Coming into the season, the offensive line was looked at as a key weakness that would keep the Steelers out of the playoffs. But, over the course of the season, the offensive line has gotten much better.

Since their bye in Week 9, the Steelers are averaging 144.3 rushing yards per game. The offensive line is obviously a key component in that.

"I think it's reflective of the collective," Tomlin said. "They're doing a better job of communicating. The time that they spend together. I see them working hard at the things that you can't measure, the intangible qualities that makes a group a group. They spend time together formally, informally. They're legitimately close. I think it helps that many of them are at similar stages in life and so they've got some similar experiences and responsibilities. Nobody's got a bunch of car seats in the back of their car and those type of things. They're young men that are evolving as players and doing so together. I just think it's helpful when you we have community in that."

• Marcus Allen's boneheaded penalty at Carolina has certainly been a talking point among fans and radio shows for the past couple day, but it's not one for Tomlin. He quickly shut down any questions about what may have been said to Allen or Diontae Johnson for their unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

"I'll leave that in-house," Tomlin said. "I'm not going to give you the pound of flesh you're looking for."

Much later in the press conference, a reporter tried again from a different perspective, asking if Johnson or Allen were proactive in coming to Tomlin to admit their wrongdoing.

"I'll leave that between us," Tomlin said.

• On the injury front, Tomlin said Terrell Edmunds is dealing with a minor hamstring issue, Diontae Johnson has turf toe and Derek Watt has an ankle injury. However, Tomlin said he doesn't anticipate these injuries to "extend into the latter part of the week."

Tomlin also mentioned the lingering injuries that Myles Jack (groin) and Pat Freiermuth (foot) are dealing with, and said they could be limited at the early stages of the week. As always, Tomlin will rely on their participation in practice for who might be available Saturday night.

While the Steelers did not practice Tuesday, the team did release an estimation of who would have practiced and in what capacity.