Questions have arisen regarding the inactive status of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite being medically cleared following ankle surgery, Pickett's absence raised eyebrows, leading to speculation about his willingness to be a backup or emergency third quarterback.

Mark Madden, a local radio host on 105.9 in Pittsburgh, claimed that Pickett refused to be the backup quarterback for Mason Rudolph. Madden went on to suggest that Steelers writers were aware of this information but chose not to report it.

However, Pickett has refuted these claims, addressing reporters on Tuesday. He stated that there was no discussion of him being a backup quarterback for the game against the Seahawks. If deemed healthy enough by trainers and coaches, Pickett would have started and played. However, the team ultimately decided he was not ready to dress and play.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin shed some light on the situation in a press conference on Monday. Tomlin explained that Pickett was inactive because Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky had received more practice reps leading up to the game.

Tomlin also confirmed that Rudolph will remain the starter for the upcoming crucial season finale against the Baltimore Ravens.

While Mark Kaboly of The Athletic Steelers beat writer did not go as far as Madden, he expressed doubt about Pickett's status for the Seahawks game. Kaboly questioned why Pickett's health was cited as the reason for his absence, only for him to apparently recover fully just 12 hours later.

Pickett, 25, last played during a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on December 3. He has missed several games due to injury and was made inactive again in the game against the Seahawks.

Instead, Trubisky started in the losses against the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts before Tomlin turned to Rudolph, who has led the Steelers to two consecutive wins.

Rudolph, 28, has performed well in his limited appearances this season, with 567 passing yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He has completed 68.5 percent of his passes.

With a must-win season finale against the Ravens, the Steelers (9-7) face an uphill battle to secure a playoff spot. However, their fate depends not only on their own victory but also on other teams' results. The Ravens have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which may lead to potential rest for their key players.

To secure a playoff spot, the Steelers must win against the Ravens and rely on outcomes in the games between the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans. A win combined with specific circumstances could see the Steelers through to the postseason.

As the truth behind Pickett's inactive status continues to be scrutinized, the Steelers remain focused on their upcoming do-or-die matchup against the Ravens, hoping to extend their season and make a late push for playoff contention.