Mike Tomlin addresses Kenny Pickett moving up depth chart

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On3 image — Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire

Mike Tomlin is undergoing his first offseason as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers without a sure-fire starting quarterback, and it will likely take until the last moments of the preseason for Tomlin and company to decide who will be under center in Pittsburgh come Week One.

Fans received a slight update on the otherwise quiet quarterback battle Monday afternoon when news broke that rookie Kenny Pickett has overtaken Mason Rudolph as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart behind former Chicago Bears QB1 Mitch Tribusky.

“There’ll be more of that,” Tomlin assured following training camp Monday. “All of those guys are running all groups, It’s just part of team development.”

When asked directly after whether or not the media should read into it, Tomlin replied, “you should not, but I’m sure you will.”

Obviously, Tomlin and the Steelers wouldn’t move Pickett up the depth chart if he didn’t earn it. Pickett is plenty familiar with Heinz Field already after spending all five years of his college career with the Pittsburgh Panthers. In fact, he’s started more times at the now Acrisure Stadium (formerly Heinz Field) than Rudolph and Trubisky combined.

Pickett lit up Acrisure Stadium last season, as he threw for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions while leading the team to an ACC Championship and 11-3 record. He also finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, becoming Pitt’s first finalist since 2003.

The status that comes along with being a first-round draft choice breeds expectations to start immediately, but it seems Pickett may have to bide his time under Trubsiky for the time being.

Although Trubisky is working with the first team at the moment, a lot can change before the start of the season. The fact that Pickett is moving up the depth chart is evidence that Mike Tomlin and the rest of the Pittsburgh coaches are beginning to gain more trust in him. Pittsburgh has its first preseason game on Aug. 13 and opens the regular season on Sept. 11.