It isn’t surprising that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett is doing well in the preseason.
After all, he has played on the same field where his collegiate team, the Pitt Panthers, play their home games.
Likewise, he feels comfortable playing in front of the same fans who supported him before entering the NFL.
That’s why it didn’t take long for him to impress.
In his first preseason game, Pickett completed 13 of 15 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
One of his scoring throws was the go-ahead drive against the Seattle Seahawks.
Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had lower numbers which are still relatively impressive with six passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Those numbers helped him achieve the highest quarterback rating among rookies this preseason.
Highest QB Rating among rookies this preseason
Kenny Pickett 138.6
Skylar Thompson 121.3
Desmond Ridder 98.0
Brock Purdy 86.0
Malik Willis 80.5
Bailey Zappe 72.1
Sam Howell 69.1
Matt Corral 49.3 pic.twitter.com/eIbirOSJoR— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) August 23, 2022
Pickett leads the lot at 138.6, followed by the Miami Dolphins’ Skylar Thompson at 121.3.
Desmond Ridder (98), Brock Purdy (86), and Malik Willis (80.5) complete the top five.
Pickett will have a chance to improve on his numbers in their final preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
Pickett Is Proving The Doubters Wrong
During the Scouting Combine, the focus on Pickett was on his small hands.
Since then, he has proven that his palms are just fine and that he can lead the Steelers to scoring drives.
Likewise, he is potentially making head coach Mike Tomlin change his mind about naming Mitchell Trubisky as their starter.
Still, the Steelers don’t want to push Pickett too soon.
Therefore, he would learn the ropes from the sidelines before getting his opportunity.
If Trubisky or Mason Rudolph don’t pan out, Tomlin will call on Pickett.
After all, it’s obvious that he has what it takes to play in the NFL.
It would be a steal for Pittsburgh if Pickett turned out to be a worthy successor for Ben Roethlisberger.
NEXT: Should Kenny Pickett Be The Week One Starter In Pittsburgh?