Steelers sign former Pro Bowl LB Jaylon Smith
Following head coach Mike Tomlin’s announcement that linebacker Elandon Roberts will be sidelined for the Steelers’ Week 17 game against the Seahawks, some form of action was anticipated from the team. Pittsburgh has indeed taken that action.
Jaylon Smith, a former Pro Bowler for the Cowboys, is joining the Steelers. Before suffering a devastating knee injury in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl that resulted in the tears of both his ACL and MCL, Smith was a standout player at Notre Dame. However, Smith’s star potential was too good to ignore, and the Cowboys selected him in the second round of that year’s selection.
Smith missed all of the 2016 season, but played in all 16 games from 2017-20, being named a Pro Bowler in 2019. His play dropped off, though. after the 2019 season and the Cowboys released Smith in the middle of the 2021 campaign. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers and released after two games before spending the rest of 2021 and 2022 with the New York Giants. Smith appeared in one game with the Raiders this season and now heads to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers Are Making Kenny Pickett Earn Back Starting Job From Mason Rudolph
The barrier to Kenny Pickett’s re-entry as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback became more costly after Mason Rudolph’s big day against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. The Steelers hinted that Pickett would have more to prove in practice before they named him the starter.
Ian Rapoport with the NFL Network reported Pickett would be ready to return to play for the Steelers in their Week 17 contest against the Seattle Seahawks. The 8-7 Steelers have no margin for error against the Seahawks this week or Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 if they want to make the playoffs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are making Pickett earn his job back
The Steelers might not be ready to hand Pickett the keys this week with so much in Pittsburgh riding on the result against the Seahawks. Per the Steelers’ website, head coach Mike Tomlin said Pickett’s health is only one “component” of the Steelers decision to name Rudolph as their starting quarterback as they practice this week:
The Steelers (8-7) will prepare to play against the Seahawks (8-7) with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback and see how Pickett’s surgically-repaired ankle responds to practice throughout the week.
However, unlike last week, when Tomlin wasn’t necessarily sure what kind of performance he might get from Rudolph after turning to him following two games with Mitch Trubisky replacing Pickett, there is some very tangible evidence that Rudolph can be part of a winning effort for the Steelers.
“There’s multiple variables in the discussion and Kenny’s health or his relative health is a component of it as well,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “Obviously, we feel better having tangible evidence of his performance.
“As I stand here, we are kind of in the same mentality in terms of how we were approaching the week in terms of the day-to-day aspect of it.”
In other words, the Steelers are making Pickett prove he’s ready to be the starting quarterback again. And more importantly, Tomlin is saying Pickett’s health is only one part of the equation.
Does that mean Pickett is benched? Maybe. However, much of Tomlin’s decision could have to do with Pickett’s skillset. The Steelers need Pickett to be closer to 100 percent healthy to be a quality starter versus what you’d get with Patrick Mahomes dealing with the same injury.
Mason Rudolph has the hot hand this week
Rudolph proved his worth to the Steelers Saturday when he went 17/27 passing for 290 yards, two touchdowns, and most importantly, zero interceptions. Rudolph’s production is better than Pickett’s, and Mitch Trubisky’s this season–pretty much across the board.
Rudolph is 9.8 yards per pass this season. Picket is averaging just 6.4 yards this season. Pickett has thrown six touchdowns to four interceptions this season.
Rudolph also got the ball out to his playmakers and spread passes to several pass-catchers during the Steelers’ 34-11 blowout win (the first game this season where the Steelers have reached 30+ points). George Pickens had a breakout game, catching four passes on six targets for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Diontae Johnson caught just two passes, but he was targeted five times.
