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Mike Tomlin announces Mitch Trubisky as starter for Pittsburgh Steelers' final preseason game

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz08/26/22NickSchultz_7

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback competition is entering the home stretch. Friday, Mike Tomlin declared the starter for the Steelers’ final preseason game — one final tuneup before the regular season.

Mitch Trubisky will take the first snaps for Pittsburgh against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Tomlin announced. Kenny Pickett will be the next man up, followed by Mason Rudolph. Tomlin didn’t provide details on just how much each quarterback will play, but all three will get reps in the game.

Trubisky also started Pittsburgh’s previous preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers signed him as a free agent over the offseason after he spent last year backing up Josh Allen with the Buffalo Bills. A former No. 2 overall pick by the Chicago Bears, he was seen as the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger following his retirement.

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Then, Pittsburgh selected Pickett as the No. 20 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He had a big 2021 season at Pitt to help the Panthers to an ACC title and was the only quarterback taken in the first round. That added some competition to a quarterback room that had Trubisky coming in and Rudolph coming back.

The Steelers and Lions will kick off Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET in each team’s third and final preseason game.

Pittsburgh Steelers release five players to cut down roster

The Pittsburgh Steelers released five players Tuesday to bring their roster from 85 to 80, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported. Linebacker Genard Avery, receiver Christian Blake, running back Mateo Durant, quarterback Chris Oladokun and kicker Nick Sciba were all cut from the team.

The move was expected, as all NFL teams are allowed a maximum of only 80 players for the final week of the preseason. However, it was a bit surprising to see them cut Avery, whom they signed to a one-year deal in March. The linebacker started 12 games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021, recording 43 tackles and a sack.