Steelers QB Kenny Pickett getting ‘varsity-like action’ in practice

Kenny Pickett could be preparing for a bigger role this week in preseason.

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Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett has seen an uptick in his practice reps this week. Pickett has been working with the second team this week for an expanded role against the Jacksonville Jaguars this week.

According to head coach Mike Tomlin, this week’s change at practice is prepping him for perhaps an expanded role in the preseason.

“It’s preparation more than anything,” Tomlin said. “He’s going to get some reps in more varsity-like action in this game in an effort to get to know him and see how he fares. What he’s doing out here is just preparing for it.”

What will this mean for this week’s preseason game against the Jaguars? Hopefully it means Pickett is the first guy in after starter Mitch Trubisky. This will give him an opportunity to work with better skill players and against better defenders. Pickett was sharp in his NFL debut last week but admittedly it was against third and fourth-string defenders.

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