Going through the offseason workout process, many in Philadelphia seemed head over heels for Kenny Pickett. The Steelers dealt their “future” at quarterback after he requested a trade. He did not feel comfortable with the addition of Russell Wilson and wanted a change of scenery.
Pittsburgh obliged and sent Pickett to the Eagles. Since then, the Steelers added Justin Fields to their quarterback room and things seem to be working out for Pittsburgh.
Ever since training camp began in Philadelphia, Pickett has started to show his true colors.
Tanner McKee got 2nd team reps over Kenny Pickett today, per @EJSmith94 đ
Sirianni recently spoke highly of Tanner.
Let the QB(2) battle begin! đ„#Eagles pic.twitter.com/hldb3L5Fir
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) August 4, 2024
Many thought he could carry quality performances at minicamp into their preseason process. The opposite has happened, and now it seems like Pickett could be losing his grip on the backup spot with the Eagles. It seemed like a slam dunk for the former first-round pick, but that is not the case anymore.
Fields appears to be an upgrade over Pickett thus far, and the Steelers could not be happier with how things are currently unfolding.
According to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94 WIP, Pickett’s lack of quality practices at training camp seems to be bringing on a backup quarterback controversy in Philadelphia.
“Might be time to have the Tanner McKee over Kenny Pickett discussion. Would be very curious to see them both get reps with the 1st team offense just to see who does better. It might be McKee,” Shorr-Parls tweeted.
Pickett had the backup spot in the bag, much like he would’ve had with the Steelers if he stayed. Now things don’t seem so stable for him with the Eagles after only being there since the middle of March. His current employer might be inclined to give McKee an opportunity to jump Pickett for the second quarterback spot on the depth chart.
It seems like a troublesome comedy for Pickett as he could have had a better chance if he just stayed in Pittsburgh. Yes, Russell Wilson is still likely to be the starting quarterback over Fields, but there is no guarantee now. Wilson has missed significant time in training camp with a nagging calf injury. Those first-team reps have gone to Fields, which he has taken advantage of.
We will never know how Pickett would have reacted to taking those reps from Wilson, but Fields is taking full advantage. It has created a potential quarterback controversy, especially with each passing day where Wilson misses time at training camp. The grass isn’t always greener, and Pickett is starting to learn that the hard way.
If McKee can unseat Pickett for the backup spot with the Eagles, his career could start a downward spiral.
A year can make a big change in anyone’s life. Pittsburgh was rooting hard for Pickett as he was expected to become the prime quarterback for the Steelers around this time last year. Now he is with the Eagles struggling to hang onto a backup spot because he can’t be consistent enough with Philadelphia. Nothing will be given to Pickett anymore, and his career could be in jeopardy if he doesn’t turn things around.
