Steelers’ Kenny Pickett Refutes Report He Refused to Dress for Seahawks Game

A fiery Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett started his media availability Tuesday by denying rumors that he refused to dress for his team’s game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday because he did not want to serve as the backup to Mason Rudolph.

Pickett, who has started all 12 games in which he has appeared this season, has been out of action due to a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 13 and said he was not medically cleared to play against the Seahawks. 

Despite Pickett’s injured return, coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday that Rudolph will start for the club against the Baltimore Ravens in the regular-season finale.

On Tuesday, Pickett stated, “I felt like there were reports out there attacking my character and how I am as a person.” “There was no discussion about me playing quarterback backup this week [against the Seahawks] or being a two. I was going to start and play if I felt well enough to play and if the trainers and coaches thought I looked good enough.

Mark Madden of WXDX-FM was the first to report Pickett refused to dress for the Seahawks game, and he added that “Steelers writers know but won’t write it.” Derrick Bell of Steelers Now also reported that Pickett refused to back up Rudolph. 

After Pickett’s media availability, Madden ranted on social media, claiming that Pickett is lying about refusing to dress and back up Rudolph.

Pickett will serve as the backup quarterback for the Steelers (9–7) against the Ravens (13–3) on Saturday, with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN.