Steelers' Patrick Peterson defines expectations for Kenny Pickett

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett enters the 2023 NFL season as the team’s starter after battling to take the job as a rookie. Now that his teammates have seen what he’s capable of, the expectations have only increased for the former Panthers star.

Opening up on The Jim Rome Show, Pittsburgh veteran Patrick Peterson said he believes the Steelers’ potential this season hinges on Pickett.

“We know defense wins championships,” Peterson started. “We have talent across the board on the offensive side of the ball. I believe the front office did a great job of getting what we needed in the draft as far as getting Broderick [Jones] in the first round, a left tackle, young pup who you should expect to see play a lot. You added Allen Robinson, you got Diontae Johnson, you got George Pickens, you got Najee [Harris].”

“You know it’s all going to come down to how well Kenny can play and can he put the ball where it needs to go,” Peterson continued. “I believe he is a guy that we can rely on, a guy that we can count on. Now it’s all going to fall on him if he can go out there and show us what he’s capable of doing.”

In 13 games, including 12 starts, the former Pitt standout threw for 2,404 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. The team finished 9-8 but ultimately didn’t make the playoffs.

Pickett taking ‘bull by the horns,’ per Allen Robinson

Allen Robinson, the newest Steelers receiver, is liking what he sees from his new young quarterback. It’s not so much about his arm, but his ability to command the team.

“Leaders are born,” Robinson said last week about Pickett. “It doesn’t take a lot of time for a guy who is a natural leader. I think anybody here can tell that from Kenny. I have been here a little over a month and you can already tell his leadership, how he leads the charge day in and day out. For a second-year guy, that isn’t easy. For a guy to be able to take a bull by the horns like that, it’s pretty impressive.”

Although Pickett is only going into his second year in the league, he did spend five years at Pitt. His collegiate career culminated in his best season as a senior where he posted 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.