REVEALED: Steelers QB Mitch Trubisky ‘was benched after Week 4 locker-room spat over disgruntled receiver Diontae Johnson’s lack of touches’ leading team to insert Kenny Pickett
- Mitch Trubisky was reportedly benched in Pittsburgh after a locker room fight
- He argued with Diontae Johnson in Week 4 over the receiver’s lack of touches
- Johnson had dropped a pass that was intercepted earlier in the loss to the Jets
- Trubisky was replaced by rookie Kenny Pickett, who started the next two games
- Pickett suffered a concussion Sunday, allowing Trubisky to play against the Bucs
- Trubisky led Pittsburgh to a 20-18 win over Tampa Bay with 144 yards and one TD
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A losing record and mediocre statistics may not have been enough to cost Mitchell Trubisky his job as the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ starting quarterback. Rather, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, it was a halftime confrontation with receiver Diontae Johnson that led to rookie Kenny Pickett’s ascent to the top of the depth chart.
Trubisky was benched in favor of Picket in the second half of Pittsburgh’s Week 4 loss to the New York Jets. He would have remained under center after halftime, but got into a heated argument with Johnson, who felt he was being ignored, according to the Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac.
Johnson, himself, dropped a pass that resulted in an interception for Trubisky in the first half.
When Trubisky yelled back at Johnson in the locker room on October 3, he was told by the coaching staff that Pickett would be under center over the final 30 minutes of play.
Pittsburgh (2-4) ultimately lost 24-20 as Pickett tossed three interceptions while completing 10 of 13 passes.
Pickett was better in Buffalo’s Week 5 loss in Buffalo, completing 34 of 52 passes for 324 yards, but he failed to toss a touchdown and added another interception.
He may have been at his best on Sunday against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completing 11 of 18 passes and registering his first touchdown, until he was sidelined with a concussion.
Trubisky then came off the bench to lead Pittsburgh to the 20-18 win with a touchdown pass of his own and 144 yards on 9-of-12 passing.
‘It feels good to win just as a team, to show my teammates what I’m capable of,’ Trubisky said after the game. ‘But I think the best part is just seeing their joy and excitement after a hard-fought victory like that. We’ve had some up-and-downs the last couple weeks, but to have that feeling, that’s what you chase every single week.’
Pickett’s status for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins remains unclear, but Trubisky would be expected to play if the rookie is out following last week’s head injury.
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