The 2022 NFL season starts off for the Pittsburgh Steelers with a showdown against the AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.
With the tough Week 1 opponent, the Steelers might opt to use Kenny Pickett as starter.
If people expect them to lose this game, they’d have nothing to lose with Pickett quarterbacking this game.
The move also makes sense if Pittsburgh isn’t sold on Mitchell Trubisky as their starting quarterback.
However, would letting Pickett start over Trubisky be the smartest move for Pittsburgh?
Is Pittsburgh Willing To Turn Trubisky Into The Next Mike Glennon?
During Trubisky’s rookie season, he took over a struggling Chicago Bears team mid-season.
However, he only did so after Mike Glennon showed signs of struggling.
Glennon was signed by the Bears before they drafted the young quarterback from the University of North Carolina.
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 | 🤮
The Bears sign Mike Glennon to a 3-year/$45 million deal to be QB1.
🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qV5yFZaTWA
— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) March 10, 2022
But he was shortly replaced after being signed during the offseason.
Now, in 2022, the roles are reversed for that Tar Heels quarterback.
The Steelers drafted Pickett shortly after signing Trubisky.
If the Steelers put their rookie quarterback in over him, they will turn Trubisky into the next Glennon.
He’d be a quarterback who is given hopes of starting for his team, only to be disappointed and benched.
However, there’s more to this than him becoming the next Glennon in the NFL.
Is Pickett Ready To Be Thrown Into The Fire?
Starting against a division rival always makes for a tough start.
However, starting against a division rival that made it to the Super Bowl last season is even tougher.
The young quarterback might not be ready for Cincinnati.
But Pickett has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove to everyone.
He can prove to every doubter he can be an excellent quarterback at the highest level.
If he were to start and pull off an upset victory against the Bengals, it could silence some critics of his.
However, if he has a crash and burn moment in the game, it could damage his confidence.
So there is a risk in starting Pickett before he is ready as an NFL quarterback.
While the Steelers might have nothing to lose with the game, Pickett could lose confidence in himself with a terrible game against a tough opponent.
Let Trubisky Do The Losing
If Pittsburgh is going to lose in Week 1, they need to let Trubisky have the loss.
While some fans might want Pickett over Trubisky as their starting quarterback, it isn’t worth it for the long term.
Pretty excited, hope Pickett gets the start over Trubisky. I think Pickens will be a nice add since Juju left. Im pretty happy with the draft selections this year.
— STEELERSNATION.ETH (@steelers8452) May 4, 2022
If Trubisky loses in Week 1, it would be expected of him.
He’s been criticized as a quarterback since his days with the Bears.
However, people claim it was poor coaching in Chicago that held back Trubisky.
If this is true, starting him gives the Steelers the best chance to win.
But if the coaching wasn’t his problem in Chicago, people can just chalk it up to him being a terrible quarterback.
They can’t do that with Pickett, who’s seen as a hometown hero for Pittsburgh.
Letting him lose in Week 1 could give Pittsburgh fans a reality check on Pickett they aren’t ready for.
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