Kenny Pickett stars in debut, leads Steelers to preseason win

Kenny Pickett threw a 24-yard landing move to Tyler Vaughns with three seconds to play and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks 32-25 Saturday evening.

Pickett, Pittsburgh’s first-round decide in 2022, is competing with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph to switch retired two-time Tremendous Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger because the Steelers’ beginning quarterback.

Roethlisberger guided the franchise for 18 seasons and led the Steelers to 3 Tremendous Bowl appearances.

Pickett, the previous College of Pittsburgh standout, performed the second half and completed 13 of 15 for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Pickett was sacked, forcing a turnover on downs, however had an opportunity to win the sport when Pittsburgh’s Mark Robinson sacked Seattle’s Drew Lock and compelled a fumble on the following play.

Pickett responded with a five-play, 43-yard drive capped by his landing move to Vaughns. He acquired a loud ovation and chants of “Kenny, Kenny, Kenny” when he first took the sphere within the third quarter and earlier than the eventual profitable drive.

Lock and Geno Smith are in a contest to switch Russell Wilson as Seattle’s beginning quarterback. Wilson was traded to Denver within the offseason. It’s the primary quarterback competitors for the Seahawks since 2012, when Wilson gained the job as a rookie.

Smith and Lock didn’t have DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett on Saturday. Smith performed the primary half, going 10 of 15 for 101 yards and a dashing landing. Lock was 11 of 15 with 102 yards and two scores, however a vital fumble that led to Pittsburgh’s profitable landing.

All three Steelers quarterbacks threw landing passes. Trubisky and Rudolph threw landing passes within the first quarter, whereas Pickett transformed on his first NFL collection and led the Steelers on a game-winning drive.

Trubisky, who performed a lot of the first quarter, completed 4 of seven for 63 yards with a landing. Rudolph ended the half, going 9 of 15 for 93 yards and a rating.

Trubisky was the No. 2 general decide in 2017, whereas Rudolph served as Roethlisberger’s backup the previous 4 seasons.

Pickett, who threw for 42 touchdowns and led the College of Pittsburgh to this system’s first ACC title, completed third within the Heisman Trophy voting and was the ACC Participant of the Yr in 2021.

Smith, coming into his fourth season with the Seahawks, briefly stuffed in final season when Wilson went down with a hand harm. He stored Seattle aggressive, but in addition made vital errors in losses in opposition to Pittsburgh and New Orleans.

Lock, coming into his fourth season, was a part of the deal Seattle acquired in return for sending Wilson to the Broncos. Lock has began 21 of 24 video games, however has been inconsistent via his first three seasons.

The Seahawks punted on the primary two collection of the sport, together with a three-and-out, however Smith settled within the second quarter with a pair of scoring drives.

Smith ran an efficient two-minute drill on the finish of the half, as he led the Seahawks on a nine-play, 61-yard landing collection in 1:27. He eluded a sack on third-and-2 and later scored a 2-yard landing to tug the Seahawks inside 17-10 at halftime.

Lock twice tied the sport within the second half with landing drives. Bo Melton began the primary scoring drive with a 39-yard reception and Dareke Younger caught two passes, a 3rd down reception and a 3-yard landing. DeeJay Dallas closed a five-play, 51-yard drive with a 17-yard landing and Travis Homer tied the sport at 25-25 with a 2-point conversion catch.

Lock’s late fourth-quarter fumble proved pricey for the Seahawks.

Trubisky was backed as much as his 10-yard line to start out the sport, however he responded by main the Steelers on a seven-play, 90-yard drive in lower than three minutes.

Anthony McFarland Jr. broke off a 24-yard run on third-and-1 and Gunner Olszewski caught back-to-back passes on the drive, a 25-yarder on third-and-1 and a 13-yard landing to shut the collection.

Trubisky moved the offense to midfield on his second collection earlier than the Steelers have been pressured to punt.

Rudolph performed three collection, main the Steelers to a landing, discipline objective and three-and-out.

Rudolph recovered his personal fumble and was sacked on his first snap, however he tossed a 26-yard landing move to George Pickens two performs later. Rudolph used 17 performs and almost 9 minutes to steer the Steelers to the 3-yard line on his second drive. He almost threw an interception halfway via the drive, however the collection ended with a 21-yard discipline objective.

Pickett led the Steelers on a seven-play, 75-yard landing drive in his first collection. Steven Sims broke off a 38-yard run and Pickett later ended the drive with a 3-yard landing move to Jaylen Warren off a play motion. He related on a 2-point move to Connor Heyward to make it 25-17.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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