The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Buffalo Bills on Thursday for a joint practice, marking a return for former Steelers backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky, who spent the last two seasons with Pittsburgh, was originally brought in as a safety net while the team developed Kenny Pickett. Unfortunately, neither quarterback met expectations, making the plan a failure.
Now set to be a backup for the Bills, Trubisky got a chance to catch up with old teammates, as did the Steelers' third-string quarterback Kyle Allen, who also previously backed up in Buffalo. During the practice, there were a few amusing moments, including a brief scuffle between newly-acquired Steeler Tyler Matakevich and his former teammate during a kickoff return rep.
But the funniest moment came when Trubisky threw a pass intended for his former wide receiver, George Pickens. The problem? Pickens wasn’t on the field, and he’s no longer Trubisky’s teammate.
Steelers reporter Christopher Carter shared Pickens' priceless reaction to Trubisky’s errant throw on social media.
"He still wants to throw it to me," Pickens said laughing on the sideline.
After the 2023 season, the Steelers decided to part ways with Trubisky following two underwhelming years in Pittsburgh. Trubisky started seven games, managing just two wins while suffering five losses. He completed 64.1% of his passes, throwing for 1,884 yards, eight touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. His performance was disappointing, failing to meet the team’s expectations.
The entire Steelers offense struggled throughout the 2023 season. While Pickett showed flashes of promise, the offense consistently failed to move the chains and score points. After Matt Canada was fired, Pickett began to show improvement, but an untimely injury in the next game cut his progress short. Unfortunately, he never got the opportunity to play without Canada’s influence, and the injury ultimately led to the end of his time in Pittsburgh.
When Pickett went down, Trubisky stepped in, but struggled to find his rhythm. The Steelers were hesitant to turn to Mason Rudolph, but when they finally did, the offense exploded. Pickens’ attitude improved, and the overall production soared. The offense as a whole looked so much better with Rudolph at the helm. Across the 2023 season, the three quarterbacks who saw action for Pittsburgh combined for 13 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions. It was a historically poor season from the quarterback room.
Ex-Steelers QB Mitch Trubisky Back In A Familiar Role With The Bills
Now, Trubisky finds himself back in a familiar role as Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo. He previously played for the Bills in 2021 before joining the Steelers. Despite starting two games in 2023, Trubisky and Pickens never quite clicked. However, during their recent joint practice, Pickens had a chance to catch a pass from his former teammate, leading to a hilarious reaction. Pickens seems to be enjoying himself, and Steelers fans are hopeful for a consistently positive attitude from their star wide receiver in 2024.
Steeler Nation will get to see Trubisky face off against Pittsburgh on Saturday in their second preseason game. Russell Wilson is set to start, and Steelers fans are eager to see more of Justin Fields in action.
