NFL Player News

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Pickett will open the regular season as the team's No. 2 quarterback behind starter Mitch Trubisky, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

The Steelers created some uncertainty about Pickett's Week 1 role by listing him as the third quarterback behind Trubisky and Mason Rudolph on the depth chart the team released Monday, but Tomlin said Tuesday that Rudolph's listing ahead of Pickett was a "clerical" error, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. Pittsburgh has since updated its depth chart to list Pickett as the No. 2 option, and Tomlin noted that the rookie first-round pick will take all the backup reps in practice leading up to the Week 1 contest. Rudolph, meanwhile, is expected to be a healthy inactive while the other two signal-caller are available, leaving Pickett as the next man up to start should Trubisky miss time or lose the job for performance-related reasons at any point in 2022. The 24-year-old Pickett was sharp throughout the Steelers' three-game preseason slate, completing 29 of 36 attempts for 261 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that Trubisky will open the season as the team's starting quarterback Sunday in Cincinnati.

All signs had been pointing to Trubisky beginning the season as the team's No. 1 QB for a while. After he started each of the Steelers' three preseason games, Trubisky was then named a team captain Monday and was listed atop the team's initial Week 1 depth chart. Tomlin went on to confirm that rookie Kenny Pickett will begin the season as the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback, and his first-round pedigree and impressive preseason could mean that the veteran has a short leash if he struggles early on. For his part, Trubisky -- taken second overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Bears but now on his third organization -- performed efficiently in the Steelers' Aug. 28 preseason finale, completing 15 of 19 pass attempts for 160 yards and a touchdown.

Rudolph is listed as the Steelers' No. 3 quarterback on the team's most recent Week 1 depth chart released Tuesday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The Steelers featured Rudolph as their No. 2 quarterback on the first Week 1 depth chart that was released Monday, but Mike Garafolo of NFL Network suggests that the listing was an error. Rudolph was the third quarterback to enter the Steelers' final two preseason contests, signaling that he was on track to enter the regular season behind both Mitch Trubisky and rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett on the depth chart. Head coach Mike Tomlin will clarify the Steelers' quarterback situation when he meets with the media later Tuesday, at which time Trubisky will likely be formally named the starter and Pickett the top backup. The Steelers aren't expected to keep three quarterbacks active most weeks, so Rudolph could quickly become a regular on the inactive list.

Pickett is listed as the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback on the team's most recent Week 1 depth chart released Tuesday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Just one day earlier, the rookie first-round pick had been listed third on the depth chart behind Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph, but Pickett will now flip spots with Rudolph as Sunday's season opener in Cincinnati approaches. Head coach Mike Tomlin is expected to formally name Trubisky as the team's starter later Tuesday, at which time more clarity on whether Pickett or Rudolph is the top backup should come. Pickett notably played ahead of Rudolph in the Steelers' exhibition finale and was an efficient passer in his first preseason (29 completions on 36 attempts for 261 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions), so he's more than deserving of opening the regular season as the team's No. 2 signal-caller.

Wolford (thumb) was a full participant in Monday's practice session, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Wolford was unavailable for the Rams' preseason finale against the Bengals due to a thumb injury, but he appears to have moved past the issue ahead of Thursday's Week 1 tilt against Buffalo. The 26-year-old will serve as the top backup behind Matthew Stafford to begin the regular season.

Pickett is listed as Pittsburgh's No. 3 quarterback on the team's Week 1 depth chart that was released Monday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Though head coach Mike Tomlin has yet to officially announce a starting quarterback for Sunday's season opener in Cincinnati, Mitch Trubisky's placement atop the depth chart along with his usage in the preseason implies that he'll be under center for Pittsburgh in Week 1. Pickett, a rookie first-round selection, received the chance to battle for the job in the preseason and showed an accurate arm while limiting mistakes during the exhibition slate, but Trubisky's greater body of experience likely was a major factor in the Steelers opting for the veteran option. Pickett's placement on the depth chart behind not only Trubisky but also Mason Rudolph is the bigger surprise, given that Pickett appeared in the preseason finale directly behind Trubisky while Rudolph worked with the third-string offense. Experience may be the prevailing reason why Rudolph is listed as the No. 2 option, but Pickett still may be the likelier candidate of the two to step in as the starter if Trubisky is benched or sidelined for any reason in 2022.

The Lions signed Boyle to their practice squad Monday.

Boyle signed with the Lions last year and operated as the primary backup to Jared Goff. He drew three starts over five games and completed 61 of 94 passes for 526 yards with a 3:6 TD:INT ratio during that stretch. The Lions waived David Blough and released Boyle before signing Nate Sudfeld to be the primary backup to Jared Goff to start the 2022 campaign, but Boyle will return to the team as an emergency option on the practice squad.

Trubisky is listed first at quarterback on the Steelers' initial regular season depth chart, followed by Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

At this stage, coach Mike Tomlin hasn't made any official announcement on the team's Week 1 starting QB, but it looks like Trubisky is trending toward getting the nod Sunday against the Bengals. Per James Palmer of NFL Network, Tomlin is scheduled to do his weekly news conference Tuesday, at which point it's possible he'll officially confirm Pittsburgh's QB pecking order.

Pittsburgh lists Rudolph as its No. 2 quarterback on the first regular-season depth chart that was released Monday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Meanwhile, Mitch Trubisky sits atop the depth chart, and though head coach Mike Tomlin hasn't yet announced a starter for the Week 1 game in Cincinnati, the expectation is that Trubisky will get the nod. Rudolph's placement on the depth chart ahead of rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett is perhaps more surprising, given that Rudolph worked with the third-string offense during Pittsburgh's final two preseason games. It's possible that Rudolph is being listed second on the depth chart in deference to his status as a veteran, but Pickett may still be the likelier candidate among the two signal-callers to pick up a start if Trubisky is benched or misses time at any point in 2022.

Coach Brian Daboll said Monday that Taylor (back) is "good to go" for Week 1, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

Taylor will be available as Daniel Jones' backup during Sunday's road season opener against the Titans. The veteran suffered a back injury during the Giants' preseason finale against the Jets, but he's managed to avoid a long-term issue. It remains to be seen whether Taylor will practice in full Wednesday, but in any case he appears on track for Sunday.