Latest On Whose 'Leading' Steelers' QB Competition: Report
By Jason Hall
July 27, 2022
Veteran Mitchell Trubisky appears to be "leading" the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback competition during the team's first week of training camp, according to NFL Network senior insider Ian Rapoport.
Trubisky is currently getting the "first crack at winning the starting QB job," according to Rapoport, who said the former No. 2 overall pick is "a perfect system fit" in offensive coordinator Matt Canada's offense, despite the team having recently invested its long-term plans in No. 20 overall pick Kenny Pickett.
"This is a perfect system fit, Matt Canada's offense and Mitchell Trubisky, a really good athlete playing the quarterback position," Rapoport said. "We might see him get to a point where at the end of the year the Steelers say, 'alright, well this guy's our starter. We either turn it over to Kenny Pickett for the long-term or we work toward a future with Mitchell Trubisky.'"
Rapoport added that having both quarterbacks as viable options next season is "best case for the Steelers" before adding that Trubisky was "clearly leading this."
From Inside Training Camp Live: The #Steelers are giving QB Mitch Trubisky first crack at winning the starting QB job. pic.twitter.com/Nb6KItMlYy
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 27, 2022
Trubisky signed a two-year deal with the Steelers in March, sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo at the time.
The #Steelers have reached agreement on a two-year deal with QB Mitchell Trubisky, sources say. The former No. 2 overall pick heads to Pittsburgh as the expected starter in place of the retired Ben Roethlisberger.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2022
Trubisky, a former No. 2 overall pick, was expected to start for Pittsburgh in the absence of retired longtime starter Ben Roethlisberger prior to the team drafted Pickett in the first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft one month later.
Trubisky made 50 career starts during his five seasons with the Chicago Bears, finishing with a 29-21 QB record, as well as throwing for 10,609 yards, 64 touchdowns and 37 interceptions on 1,010 of 1,577 passing, while also recording 1,057 yards and eight touchdowns on 190 rushing attempts.
Pickett, a Heisman Trophy finalist, was one of college football's most decorated passers in 2021, winning numerous national awards while leading the Pittsburgh Panthers, who share a football facility and stadium with the Steelers, to an ACC championship and 11-2 record.