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WATCH: Steelers release highlight video from first day of minicamp

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•06/08/22•

BarkleyTruax

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Day one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ minicamp workouts are in the books, and their social media team wrapped a bow on the day with a video package including clips of some of the team’s biggest stars, including T.J Watt, Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson – and rookie first round quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Pickett, however, is having to earn his stripes despite the immense hype surrounding him being the only quarterback taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. For now, he’s running with the third team offense while fellow QB’s Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph are taking the majority of first and second team reps.

“It’s kind of what I was expecting, just come in here and earn everything I get,” Pickett said during OTA’s, via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

Despite being the third-team quarterback for the time being, many fans expect Pickett to come out on top in the race to be longtime signal caller Ben Roethlisberger‘s successor following his retirement after the end of last season. It seems the former Pitt standout is poised to fill his shoes long-term, and Roethlisberger is willing to help out in any way he can even before he takes his first NFL snap.

“He said he’s always there for me if I have any questions or advice,” said Pickett. “He’s an unbelievable player, Hall of Famer. He’s a guy that I’ll definitely use as a resource in the coming weeks here.”

Roethlisberger, like Pickett, was under-recruited in high school and attended Miami (Ohio) where he was crowned MAC Most Valuable Player of the Year before going on to play his full career with the Pittsburgh Steelers after they used the No. 11 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft to select him, and Pickett would be right to pick the brain of the future Hall of Famer.

Regardless of Roethlisberger’s stance, Pickett is playing his snaps with the Steelers third-team offense, though Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has said that the former Pitt star still has a chance to be the starter day one of next season.

“There’s a lot to teach, a lot to learn, a lot of opportunities to teach and learn because of the snaps we’re getting,” Tomlin said about offseason workouts. “We’re just appreciative of that.”