Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett took exception Tuesday to reports that he “refused” to suit up for the Steelers’ Week 17 game against the Seattle Seahawks.
In fact, Kenny Pickett said he would have started the game over Mason Rudolph, who led the Steelers to a 30-23 victory.
Pickett, who started the first 12 games for the Steelers, has missed the last five games due to an ankle injury suffered in a 24-10 loss to Arizona.
“I saw reports out there that I felt were attacking my character and how I am as a person,” said Kenny Pickett, who was listed as inactive for the Seattle game. “There was no talk of me being a backup quarterback.
“If I was healthy enough to play, and the trainers and coaches felt I was healthy enough to play, I was going to start and play.”
Related: NFL playoff scenarios, projected matchups, and odds after Sunday’s Week 17 games
Mason Rudolph has excelled in Kenny Pickett’s absence
Although Kenny Pickett is now healthy and ready to play, the Steelers with give Mason Rudolph a third straight start Sunday in a must-win game against the Baltimore Ravens (13-3), who have already secured the AFC’s top seed.
The Steelers (9-7) currently have a 29-percent chance of making the playoffs, but they have a two-game winning streak with Rudolph running the offense.
Behind Rudolph, who’s been their third-string quarterback all season, the Steelers’ offense has scored 30 or more points in consecutive weeks and has averaged 433 yards of total offense.
Related: Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph proves he was the solution all along in Week 17 victory