Steelers name Pickett starting QB

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving forward with rookie Kenny Pickett as their starting quarterback, the team announced Tuesday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin explained that the offense's overall struggles played a factor in the quarterback change.

"(Mitch Trubisky's) performance was a component of the decision but not the only component of the decision," Tomlin said Tuesday, according to team reporter Dale Lolley.

"That's not fair to him," Tomlin added, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. "He's played better than that description, but we haven't."

Pickett's first start will come against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The rookie made his NFL debut in Week 4, replacing Trubisky after the latter was benched in the second half of the Steelers' 24-20 loss to the New York Jets.

Pickett completed 10-of-13 pass attempts for 120 yards and three interceptions in his regular-season debut. The Pitt product also added two rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, Trubisky exited the contest having completed 7-of-13 passes for 84 yards and one interception.

Pickett led the Steelers back from a 10-6 first-half deficit to a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Jets then scored 14 unanswered points to take the win and drop the Steelers to 1-3 on the season.

Tomlin praised the rookie's preparation on his journey to becoming the Steelers' starting quarterback.

"We have no reservations of what Kenny is going to be capable of in terms of our schematics. ... Kenny has shown us maturity at every component of this process," Tomlin noted, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

Trubisky, who signed a two-year, $14.2-million contract with the club in March, hasn't provided stability in the franchise's first season without Ben Roethlisberger.

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