NFL training camp 2022 tracker: Steelers to start Mitchell Trubisky in preseason finale

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced Friday afternoon that Mitchell Trubisky will start in the team's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions this weekend instead of rookie Kenny Pickett.

This is perhaps a sign that Tomlin is leaning toward naming Trubisky the Week 1 starter despite Pickett's recent preseason performances. Pickett went 13-of-15 for 95 yards and two touchdowns in his Steelers debut against the Seahawks and followed it up by completing 6-of-7 attempts for 76 yards and another touchdown last week against the Jaguars. More importantly, though, Pickett didn't throw any interceptions in his two games.

Trubisky, meanwhile, has gone 9-of-15 with 123 yards and one touchdown in his two preseason appearances.

So while Steelers fans may want Tomlin to trot out the No. 20 overall pick against the defending AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 11, Tomlin might be more apt to tap the veteran passer in Trubisky — at least in Week 1.

Tomlin also said recently that he wouldn't name a Week 1 starter until after the preseason was over, so Trubisky's starter moniker could just be nominal. But until the Steelers actually take the field, it's impossible to know what Trubisky taking starting snaps in a preseason game means in the grand scheme of things. At the very least, Tomlin added that Pickett will be the second quarterback to see action after Trubisky.