Tomlin has been one in all Trubisky’s staunchest advocates inside the group, and he embraced the thought {that a} battle-hardened journeyman — who was beloved in the locker room — would possibly do exactly sufficient to steward Pittsburgh’s restricted offense, with a confirmed protection main the method. But via roughly 1 / 4 of the season, Trubisky has been unable to muster something, Pittsburgh’s offense has been brutal and Tomlin had lastly seen sufficient by halftime of what turned a 24-20 defeat to the Jets that dropped the Steelers to 1-3. Pittsburgh is tied for final in the NFL with two passing touchdowns, has allowed eight sacks, and of all certified NFL quarterbacks, solely Bears beleaguered teen Justin Fields has a decrease QB ranking than Trubisky’s (73.7).
“We did what we needed to do to put ourselves in position to win this game,” Tomlin mentioned of the quarterback change in his postgame remarks. “And we’ll do it again.”
Tomlin isn’t one to make proclamations in public, or ruminate on a choice like this with too many individuals. He’ll resolve who must know precisely who his QB is each time he desires to, however his employees is already working as if the teen will get the gig shifting ahead. The Steelers, in any case, are reeling after three straight losses and in want of a spark earlier than this season will get away from them in a method no season in Pittsburgh has for fairly a while.
“I don’t see how you can go back to Trubisky now,” mentioned one member of the Steelers employees who just isn’t permitted to discuss personnel choices.
If the change is inevitable — and, once more it will ship shock waves via that group if it’s not — what’s an affordable expectation for Pickett in what can be his first NFL begin subsequent week, and at Buffalo of all locations.
“Bring some energy and try to push the ball downfield,” the particular person mentioned.
Pickett did each on Sunday, beneath duress, even in a shedding trigger. The field rating exhibits three interceptions. however the actuality is he threw one shortly after making his debut, hardly unusual in such conditions. On one other, receiver Chase Claypool may have performed extra to assist the child passer, whereas the third was a Hail Mary in desperation time. Pickett did assist the run recreation get going and scored two touchdowns on the floor on a day wherein Trubisky’s drives went nowhere.
Tomlin, but to endure a shedding season throughout his lengthy tenure in Pittsburgh, hasn’t needed to cope with breaking in a inexperienced passer like this earlier than; it’s one in all few teaching challenges he’s but to navigate. Ben Roethlisberger was already an ascending quarterback — with a Super Bowl win — when Tomlin took over for Bill Cowher in 2007, and he’s not wired to contemplate a lot this time of yr past the subsequent week’s opponent. Getting his thoughts round the proven fact that this franchise is actually rebuilding, or retooling, after an unbelievably lengthy Super Bowl window with Big Ben is a grueling psychological calculus for this coach. But it’s by no means been clearer that the Steelers are very a lot in transition, and the extra developmental positive factors Pickett makes this season, the higher he should fare in Year 2.
There is hope in that group that T.J. Watt, the reigning defensive participant of the yr, could possibly be again in two weeks to face Tampa — the Steelers have by no means gained with him injured — and I’m instructed he continues to push to return as quickly as doable. Second-year operating again Najee Harris suffered a Lisfranc damage this summer time that was extra impactful than might have been let on at the time, and if Pickett is ready to get the ball downfield extra, perhaps the run recreation will choose up a tick or two. Don’t be shocked, both, if the Steelers find yourself shifting Trubisky earlier than the commerce deadline, now only a month away, with inevitable QB accidents mounting round the league and this workforce open to stockpiling extra draft capital.
Regardless, that is wholly unfamiliar territory for Tomlin, who’s now dealing with a choice in October he’d have cherished to place off till 2023. And there seems to be however one technique to go.
The NFL’s worldwide ambitions
The NFL returned to London on Sunday, with one other recreation scheduled for Week 5. Three extra worldwide video games — in London, Germany and Mexico — will comply with. And the need for additional worldwide growth stays larger than ever amongst league house owners.
Several high-ranking people inside NFL entrance workplaces, in addition to inside the league workplace itself, have continued to level out that there are few targets extra interesting to the league than its continued mainstreaming each in Mexico and out of doors of North America. And whereas the pandemic intensified a few of the logistical issues with truly basing a workforce in London, the attract of taking part in extra common season video games overseas could be very actual and more likely to be a subject of dialog at the annual October league conferences, I’m instructed.
“International growth is a very high priority,” for Commissioner Roger Goodell, said one individual who had discussed the ongoing goals with several owners but was not at liberty to speak for them. “I think you’ll see more international games by 2024, assuming things go smoothly this year.”
Several well-connected NFL executives anticipate the league eventually playing a second game each season in Mexico or Germany, and perhaps both. The NFL continues to spend considerable resources in Brazil, too. And there remains buzz for creating a “London Season Ticket” — perhaps even within the next five years — which would feature eight games in England, equating to a full home schedule, spread among various venues.
More friction in Carolina
NFL execs continue to tell me that Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey is a key name to keep an eye on ahead of the trade deadline. The Panthers had another brutal loss Sunday to fall to 1-3, and within that franchise there is a growing sense that owner David Tepper and Coach Matt Rhule are playing a game of chicken: Will Rhule leave for a college job before Tepper fires him, or will the owner have to risk eating tens of millions by whacking him midseason? Regardless, if Tepper wants to make this job attractive to other candidates, he’d best get to work.
Carolina doesn’t have a quarterback or a quality roster, and this team isn’t loaded with extra draft picks, either. That’s the stuff that attracts the top candidates. “That job, working for that owner, is a tough sell right now,” as one NFL GM put it. Two general managers I spoke to anticipate the Panthers will ultimately be willing to eat a chunk of salary to move McCaffrey and others to try to add assets for the future. Either way, morale is very low in Carolina, and frustration is mounting.