The Eagles are all about quarterback development, and with the club looking for efficiency behind Jalen Hurts, Howie Roseman acquired Kenny Pickett from Pittsburgh in a draft pick swap.
Philadelphia sent a third-round pick (No. 98 overall) in last April’s draft and two 2025 seventh-round selections to Pittsburgh, while the Steelers include a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 120) in the deal.
The No. 20 overall pick out of Pitt in the 2022 NFL draft, Pickett could play a key role in Philadelphia securing the NFC East if Jalen Hurts can’t clear the concussion protocol.
Here is Kenny Pickett working with DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown pic.twitter.com/a6EJVAYXBt
— Chris Franklin (@cfranklinnews) December 26, 2024
Pickett (ribs) was practicing with some extra padding around his midsection.
Thursday’s afternoon practice was the first on-field session of the week. After a walkthrough on Tuesday, they had a day off on Wednesday for Christmas. Hurts was listed as a non-participant despite the day off, while Pickett was listed as limited on an estimated injury report.
On Thursday morning, the Eagles brought back quarterback Ian Book to the practice squad as some insurance. Book was with the Eagles in 2022. He will be behind Tanner McKee on the Eagles’ depth chart. McKee has been the Eagles’ third-stringer since he was drafted in the sixth round last year. While McKee has not played in a regular season game, he had a strong training camp this summer.
Against the Commanders, Pickett completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but he struggled to push the football downfield.
Pickett went 14-10 in 24 starts for the Steelers. In those 24 games, Pickett was 446 of 713 passing (62.6%) for 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
He suffered an ankle injury in December and never returned to the field as Mason Rudolph took over starting duties.