Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has addressed rumors suggesting that he refused to be the backup quarterback in the previous week's game. In a statement to reporters from the locker room, Pickett clarified that he was inactive due to not being medically cleared.

According to Pickett, there were reports attacking his character and questioning his professionalism. He emphasized that there was no discussion of him being a backup quarterback for the game against the Seattle Seahawks. The decision to start or bench him was solely based on the assessment of the trainers and coaches. Pickett stated that if he had been considered healthy enough to play, he would have started. However, since the medical staff deemed him unfit, he was not included in the active roster.

Expressing his frustration about the false reports, Pickett called out the individuals who spread them, highlighting their ulterior motives of advancing their own careers or viewpoints.

Despite being medically cleared for Week 18, head coach Mike Tomlin has chosen to stick with Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback for the upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens. The offense has experienced significant improvement under Rudolph's leadership. In the two games with Rudolph at the helm, the Steelers have averaged 432.5 yards per game, 275.0 passing yards, and 32 points. These statistics far surpass the numbers achieved when Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky started, with the team averaging 287.1 yards, 177.1 passing yards, and 15.9 points per game.

As a first-round pick, Pickett may be disappointed with Tomlin's decision to continue with Rudolph. Nevertheless, he expressed his determination to put the team's interests first and contribute in any way necessary to secure victories and keep the Steelers' playoff hopes alive.

The fate of Pickett in Pittsburgh, along with the Steelers' quarterback situation, will undoubtedly become a prominent offseason storyline for the franchise as they plan for the future. As Rudolph continues to shine on the field, questions arise about Pickett's future in the Steel City and who the team might turn to at the quarterback position moving forward.

With the regular season nearing its end and the playoffs looming, the Steelers face an important decision that could have long-term implications for their success on the football field.