Mitchell Tribusky getting majority of first-team reps in Steelers quarterback battle, his job to lose

Leading up to the Steelers training camp this fall, the biggest storyline was without question, which quarterback was going to replace former Pittsburgh great Ben Roethlisberger under center. On Sunday afternoon, we got some early answers as to who might eventually replace him from ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio and Peter King. Mitchell Tribusky has the inside track for the starting job and he’s been told that it’s his to lose, per Peter King.

“Coach Tomlin is very transparent about the situation.” Trubisky told King in an article written by Mike Florio. “I’ve taken all the reps with the ones so far. So I’m just trying not to take any day for granted, just take advantage of this opportunity, continue to lead this team.

In 2018, Tribusky had far and away his best season under Matt Nagy in Chicago, where he completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 3,223 yards, while tossing in 24 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. As a runner that season, he gashed opposing defenses to the tune of 421 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 68 carries.

It’s no secret that Tribusky’s best season came when he was running the football a lot to setup the passing lanes. Dating back to his high school days at Mentor High School (Cleveland, Ohio), he’s always been a dual-threat quarterback and it would be advisable for the Steelers to utilize his skill set as a runner.

Mike Tomlin ‘looking forward to the anxiety’ around the Steelers QB1 battle

On ‘The Pivot’ podcast, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin recently spoke about how Ben Roethlisberger’s career “messes up your perception of what’s regular and what’s not.” Still, he says he’s “excited about being uncomfortable” when it comes to their team and their open QB1 spot.

Mitchell Trubisky is the most experienced quarterback of the group. The Chicago Bears selected him second overall in 2017. He played four seasons there where he totaled 10,609 yards and 64 touchdowns. He then spent last season as the backup QB for Buffalo. Kenny Pickett is the rookie in the race. Pittsburgh selected him 20th overall in this year’s draft after five seasons with the Pitt Panthers. Finally, Mason Rudolph is the most experienced in Pittsburgh. He’s been with the team for three seasons including a 2019 season where he started 8 games and threw for 1,765 yards.

With all three providing a unique case to start Week 1, Tomlin has a lot to consider before his team begins the regular season. From what he told ‘Behind the Steel Curtain’, Tomlin says he’s excited to see where the future of the franchise is taken. It will be awkward at times, but it will be all about holding up the standard of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I just view the challenges of what lies ahead (as uncomfortable). I’m looking forward to the anxiety associated with that uncertainty. To have to stand and deliver, to live out what we believe in. The standard is the standard. That’s what I want Pittsburgh Steelers football to be. It doesn’t matter who puts their hands underneath the center, as far as I’m concerned. With all that cool stuff being said, it’s scary. But exciting.”

On3’s Stephen Samra also contributed to this article.