Pickett saw the field for the first time in an Eagles uniform Sunday against the Giants, throwing a single incomplete pass in the fourth quarter of a 28-3 victory. Pickett replaced Jalen Hurts with 10:32 left in the fourth quarter, tasked with running out the clock with his team up by four scores. He spent nearly all his time handing off, with one incompletion and one sack in his two dropbacks.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Kenny Pickett news
Team
Philadelphia Eagles
Birthdate
6/6/1998 (26)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'3", 220 lbs
Draft Info
2022: Rd 1; Pk (PIT)
Birthplace
Oakhurst, NJ, USA
Position
QB
College
Pittsburgh
Experience
3 seasons
Career History
Philadelphia Eagles
2024-Present
(1 season)
Pittsburgh Steelers
2022-2024
(2 seasons)
Pickett saw the field for the first time in an Eagles uniform Sunday against the Giants, throwing a single incomplete pass in the fourth quarter of a 28-3 victory. Pickett replaced Jalen Hurts with 10:32 left in the fourth quarter, tasked with running out the clock with his team up by four scores. He spent nearly all his time handing off, with one incompletion and one sack in his two dropbacks.
Pickett completed six of nine passes for 58 yards in Saturday's 26-3 preseason loss to the Vikings. With Jalen Hurts sitting out the Eagles' preseason finale, Pickett got another start and played the entire first half, but the former Steeler did little with the opportunity. Pickett's longest completions both went to Parris Campbell, for 19 and 15 yards on his first and last possessions of the day, but he had no other gains for double-digit yards. 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee played most of the second half and had an uneven performance, which likely secures Pickett's spot as Hurts' primary backup to begin the regular season.
Pickett completed 11 of 13 passes for 67 yards while adding two rushing attempts for six yards in Thursday's 14-13 preseason win over the Patriots. Pickett played the entire first half as Jalen Hurts once again got the night off. The former Pittsburgh quarterback was content checking the ball down and led the offense to only three points, though he didn't have top skill players such as A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Saquon Barkley at his disposal. Despite having 24 regular-season starts under his belt, Pickett figures to get extensive playing time in the Aug. 24 preseason finale against the Vikings as he continues to familiarize himself with his new team's offense.
Pickett completed 14 of 22 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 16-13 preseason win over the Ravens. Reporting earlier in the day suggested that Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' first-team offense would get a series at the beginning of the game, but instead Pickett got the start under center and played into the second half. While he did connect with Will Shipley on a seven-yard TD pass on Philadelphia's second possession, Pickett had no success stretching the field and averaged just 4.0 yards per attempt, with his longest completion going for only 10 yards. The former Steeler appears set as Hurts' top backup this season, but he'll only be an emergency or garbage-time option.
The Steelers are trading Pickett to the Eagles for a draft pick swap, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. As recently as 10 days ago, multiple Pittsburgh beat reporters said the team preferred to keep Pickett and Mason Rudolph and then let them compete for the starting job. Both are now gone and will be backups for other teams, while the Steelers have Russell Wilson as the lone QB on their offseason roster. The move to Philadelphia might help Pickett's development but also means he'll have no opportunity to compete for the top spot, instead serving as a clear backup to Jalen Hurts. The 2022 first-round pick has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract, plus a fifth-year option for 2026 that's unlikely to be picked up.
Pickett won't necessarily have the opportunity to compete with newly signed Russell Wilson for a starting job, ESPN's Brooke Pryor reports. Wilson may be past his prime but nonetheless became a strong favorite for the Week 1 start when his decision to sign with the Steelers was announced Sunday night. GM Omar Khan said a week earlier that he had "full faith" in Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick (20th overall) with more regular-season wins (14) than TD passes (13). A good defense and strong record in one-score games has allowed the Steelers to stick in the playoff hunt the past two years, but Wilson give the offense some actual upside in what likely will be a run-first system under new coordinator Arthur Smith. Meanwhile, QB Mason Rudolph now seems likely to sign with a new team, leaving Wilson and Pickett as the experienced QBs in Pittsburgh.
Pickett's production through the air was similar to his new average of merely 120 yards over his last three outings. However, with the Steelers rushing for 205 yards Sunday, his muted impact was enough to help Pittsburgh to another narrow victory. Although he has now gone five straight games without an interception, Pickett's two passing touchdowns over that span evidence his very mild stock.
Pickett opened Week 9 with a limited listing on Monday's estimated practice report, and he relayed one day later that he did some light throwing in what was yet another walk-through session. He thus appears poised to be listed as a limited participant once again, which will be confirmed when the Steelers post their next injury report later Tuesday.
Pickett made an early departure from Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Jaguars due to a hard hit that he endured late in the second quarter. He suffered a rib injury as a result, but even with Pittsburgh preparing to host the Titans on a short week Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that "the door is definitively ajar" for Pickett to be available this week. Pickett is considered a "game-time type decision," so his status will be one to monitor closely as Thursday's game draws closer. Mitch Trubisky will be called upon to start if Pickett is unable to suit up.