Mitch Trubisky started the team drills portion of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice Wednesday, going 0 for 4 with a couple of poorly thrown passes. He finished it on the sideline, watching Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett make plays and quickly lead the offense to results.
Just another day of the non-competitive Steelers QB competition in St. Vincent.
Although Trubisky remains the first-team quarterback during camp and a near-certain starter for Saturday’s preseason opener, he had perhaps his worst day of training camp on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Nos. 2-3 on the depth chart flashed some of their best throws of camp.
It wasn’t all bad for Trubisky, who at one point had back-to-back completions in a 7-on-7 drill against Pat Freiermuth and George Pickens. But Trubisky’s day lacked a signature moment as Rudolph and Pickett led rushers in a 2-minute drill simulation until the end of practice. Trubisky missed all four of his opportunities in the traditional simulation with seven 2-point shots early in practice, including two balls that defenders got their hands on. Robert Spillane could have intercepted one.
Trubisky also at one point lost the ball when Carl Joseph fumbled during an 11-on-11 period. Later, a pass to Anthony Miller was thrown. The first-team offense led by Trubisky had so much trouble getting first downs in third-down drills that coach Mike Tomlin went through the charade of forcing the team to punt.
• Rudolph went 2 for 2 in seven at-bats. He then threw a perfect 20-yard pass over All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick into the hands of Tyler Vaughns in a WRs-vs.-DBs drill and later hit Connor Heyward, firing across the middle in front of Fitzpatrick for a 20-yard gain.
• Rudolph engineered a four-play, 60-yard drive that started with one timeout and 1 minute, 39 seconds left on the clock. Pickett improved on that when he followed with second-teamers needing just two plays: a 35-yard dump-off to running back Jalen Warren and a perfect 25-yard throw into the end zone to Steven Sims, who beat Linden Stevens with step by post route.
• Earlier, Pickett made a nice throw about 25 yards downfield during a team drill against Javon McKinley.
• Pickens continued his impressive camp with two big plays to highlight Rudolph’s 2-minute drill as well as several other catches that showcased his skills. One notable catch came during the WRs/DBs drill when he beat Ahkello Witherspoon about 40 yards down the right sideline.
• The other receiver taken in the 2022 draft, fourth-round pick Calvin Austin III, beat fellow rookie Chris Steele on a rush route during a highly anticipated performance in the one-on-one drill. The players cheered wildly as Austin, the speedster, burned Steele in what was the duo’s third straight performance against each other.
• With Najee Harris (foot) still out and Benny Snell nursing a knee injury Wednesday, newly signed Master Teague had the bulk of the snaps.
• Gunner Olszewski unofficially had the second-most receptions on Wednesday (behind Pickens) and continues to look like a viable option in the slot. Especially on a day when Miller went down, Olszewski’s multiple catches after a quick release showed again that he can earn a role in the offense. Given that Olszewski is the heavy favorite to be the top punt returner and kickoff returner, it could theoretically save the Steelers roster space to use elsewhere if he can also serve as a No. 4-5 receiver .
• There were live punts, some of them situational, like a snap inside the 5-yard line that forced Presley Harvin III and Cameron Nizialek out of the back of their own end zone. Harvin had the longest punt (landed at the opposing 40-yard line) and the more consistent effort. Nizialek hit one out of bounds around the halfway line as the ball was taken out of the 20.
• Olszewski, Austin, Sims, Vaughn and Tyler Snead each had punt returns.
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Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review contributor. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter.
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