Kenny Pickett was made inactive by the Steelers for Sunday's Week 17 game in Seattle against the Seahawks, sparking speculation that he refused to dress as Pittsburgh's backup.
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Following the Steelers' thrilling 30-23 victory that kept Mike Tomlin's team's postseason hopes alive, Pickett took aim at the reports that he refused to serve as Mason Rudolph's backup.
"I saw reports out there that I felt like were attacking my character and how I am as a person," Pickett told reporters in the Steelers' locker room Tuesday. "There was no talk of me being a backup quarterback this week in terms of being a two. If I was healthy enough to play, if the trainers and coaches felt I looked good enough to play, I was going to start and play. If they believe I was not, which they believed I was not, I was not going to dress and suit up for the game.
"So, whoever reported that, I don't know where it started, it's kind of crazy what people will write or put out there to try to prove their point or help their standpoint or their careers or what you guys do. I'm disappointed to see that without any proof or basis of it. So this week I'm now the 2, they feel good four weeks out of the surgery for me to dress and be the 2, so I will be the 2 to be ready to go for Baltimore. If there's any other questions about that, I feel like I answered it pretty good there, if there's anything else, any Baltimore questions, we're on to Baltimore."
After Rudolph guided the Steelers to consecutive victories over the Bengals and Seahawks, setting the stage for a Week 18 game with a playoff berth on the line, Tomlin announced that the 28-year-old would get the start in the season finale.
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"I think Kenny's availability is less in question this week," Tomlin told reporters on Monday. "I anticipate him being available to practice. That being said, we're gonna leave the ball in Mason Rudolph's hands. He's done a good job and we've done a good job in the most recent two weeks. We've taken care of the ball, he's taken care of the ball. We scored points at a rate in which we hadn't done to this point this year. And with the urgency of the moment, and because of those reasons, we're gonna leave the ball in his hands."
Tomlin's proclamation makes it clear that Pickett not playing is due to performance rather than any lingering impact from his ankle injury.
When the Steelers travel to take on the Ravens to close out the regular season, if Pickett is active for Sunday's game, it will be as Rudolph's backup.
