Former Bears’ top-two pick Mitchell Trubisky has a fascinating opportunity ahead of him. Now two years removed from failing to live up to his high draft status in Chicago, the 27-year-old can presumably earn the Steelers’ starting quarterback job.
Factor in a promising offensive supporting cast that features Najee Harris, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth, and George Pickens, and Trubisky might have a legitimate case for Comeback Player of the Year. (Tipico Sportsbook currently has the journeyman passer at +1500 — eighth-best among all contenders.)
Of course, while he might be in an optimal position, Trubisky still has to actually win that job. That’s easier said than done with Pittsburgh’s 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett breathing down his neck, waiting for a slip-up.
On Wednesday, as Trubisky tried to separate himself from the youngster during a training camp practice — he couldn’t have seen a worse start:
Mitch Trubisky takes the first two first-team reps and has two incompletions. A fan yells: “get Pickett in there!”
And so it begins.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 27, 2022
Oh no. The incompletions in themselves are one thing, especially as teams work out their kinks during the summer. Errant passes happen. A receiver might run the wrong route. Someone somewhere wasn’t clear with the play. These are all plausible explanations.
What is out of the ordinary is a fan immediately calling for Trubisky’s head at the first sign of failure. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Trubisky has a “sizable lead” over the Steelers’ quarterback of the future. But that’s the standard cookie cutter line every team trots out this time of year when they have a stopgap veteran in place while the guy they eventually want to play is still learning the ropes.
The Steelers might say Trubisky is safe now, and that’s within their prerogative. It’s probably true … for now. But, with all the playmaking talent Pittsburgh possesses — let’s see how their tune changes in the event he rewinds to the halcyon days of 2019 or 2020 and struggles to maintain any consistent quality offense.
Call it a hunch from someone who has seen Trubisky attempt to play professional quarterback: You’d be wise to save money on any Comeback Player of the Year bets on No. 10 in black and gold.
Which reminds me — Allen Robinson (+2000) with the Rams? Hello! Pass Go and collect all of your money!