Steelers scandal brewing as Kenny Pickett denies claim he ‘refused’ to dress for Seahawks game

Questions surround Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett being inactive for Sunday’s win over the Seahawks despite the second-year quarterback being medically cleared following ankle surgery, and one local radio host claims the New Jersey native was not willing to either be Mason Rudolph’s backup or the emergency third quarterback.

“Just got told that Pickett 100 percent refused to be the backup. That the Steelers writers know that but won’t write it,” Mark Madden of 105.9 in Pittsburgh wrote on X on Monday.

Pickett refuted that claim Tuesday.

“I saw reports out there that I felt like were attacking my character and how I am as a person, not even getting into the player standpoint of it,” Pickett told reporters. “There was no talk of me being a backup quarterback this week in terms of being a two. If I was healthy enough to play and the trainers and coaches felt like I would look good enough to play, I was gonna start and play. If they believed I was not, which they believed I was not, I was not gonna dress and suit up for the game.

“It’s kind of crazy what people will write and put out there to try to prove their point or help their standpoint or their careers in what you guys do. Disappointed to see that without any proof or basis of it.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Pickett, who was limited in practice before the Seahawks game, was inactive because Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky got more reps.

Tomlin said Rudolph will remain the starter for Saturday’s must-win season finale against the Ravens.

The Athletic Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly, while not taking it as far as Madden, did express doubt about Pickett’s status for the Seahawks game.

“KP [Kenny Pickett] didn’t dress because of his health yesterday but 12 hours later he’s fine and health is not an issue,” Kaboly wrote on X.

Kaboly was also asked about Pickett’s status during a Monday appearance on 93.7 The Fan.

“I’m skeptical of him not dressing [Sunday],” Kaboly said. “That might be the only way I can put it right now. I’m very, very highly skeptical that it was 100 percent Mike Tomlin’s decision that Kenny Pickett did not dress [Sunday.]”

Pickett, 25, last played during a loss to the Cardinals on Dec. 3. He missed losses to the Patriots and Colts and a win over the Bengals before being made inactive again in Seattle.

Trubisky drew the start in the losses to New England and Indianapolis before Tomlin turned to Rudolph, who has led Pittsburgh (9-7) to two straight wins.

Rudolph, 28, has 567 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in two-plus games this year while completing 68.5 percent of his passes.

Pickett, in 12 games, has 2,070 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions with a completion percentage of 62.

The Steelers need a win at Baltimore plus some help to get into the playoffs, and with the Ravens having clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC, it’s possible they may rest some players.

A win combined with either a Bills loss, a Jaguars loss or tie or a Colts-Texans tie will get Pittsburgh into the postseason.

If the Steelers tie, they can get in with a Jaguars loss and the Colts-Texans game not ending in a tie.

A Jaguars loss combined with a Broncos win and the Colts-Texans game not ending in a tie will also get the Steelers in.