Pittsburgh Steelers taking a risk by starting rookie Kenny Pickett against Buffalo Bills | Opinion

The future has officially arrived for the Pittsburgh Steelers – understandably so, yet perhaps just a touch prematurely as well.

Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the expected and announced that rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, who made his regular-season debut in Sunday's loss to the New York Jets, will make his first NFL start in Week 5.

On the road.

Against ... the Buffalo Bills.

Woof.

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"We haven't moved the ball fluidly enough to our liking, we haven't put enough points on the board," Tomlin said, careful to assume his share of the blame while spreading it to the team in general rather than heap it on demoted veteran Mitch Trubisky.

"I don't want to dunk the responsibility of what's transpired at Mitch's feet, that's not fair to him."

Yet to some extent, Tomlin's hands were tied.

Trubisky, who started the first four games – Pittsburgh won the opener but lost the past three – ranked near the bottom of the league in completion percentage (59.5%), passing yards (653), TD throws (2) and QB rating (73.7). The Steelers are averaging just 18.5 points a game, and the offense (278.8 yards per game) ranks third from the bottom league-wide.

And even though Pittsburgh has never endured a losing season under Tomlin's stewardship, which began in 2007, it was evident even to his players that this season was slipping away.

“Obviously, it’s a rebuilding year,” receiver Diontae Johnson told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette following the loss to the Jets.

“We can’t use that as an excuse. It doesn’t matter who is at quarterback or any position. It’s our job to get it done and win games. That’s what we have to do – win.”

Pickett replaced Trubisky at halftime against New York and provided an immediate lift – becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for multiple touchdowns in his debut while turning a 10-6 deficit into a 20-10 lead. The Jets' comeback was assisted by three Pickett interceptions, though it could be argued none were his fault – certainly not his game-ending giveaway on a Hail Mary attempt.

But the Bills are a far more formidable opponent than the Jets, and Tomlin knows it. The Steelers won in Buffalo to open last season but have lost their other two matchups with Buffalo since superstar quarterback Josh Allen was drafted in 2018.

Preseason Super Bowl darlings, the Bills are 3-1 (tied for the AFC's best record), but their +56 point differential is easily the league's best. Allen and Co. are certainly capable of heaping points on a compromised and 24th-ranked Pittsburgh defense missing pass rusher extraordinaire T.J. Watt.

But the real danger to Pickett will be facing the Bills' top-ranked defense and legendary linebacker Von Miller, who's more than capable of exploiting a suspect Steelers line that certainly contributed to Trubisky's struggles.

"We've got a formidable opponent this week," Tomlin admitted.

"We have no reservations about what Kenny is going to be capable of in terms of our schematics. Obviously, we have a level of concern about the environment we're taking him into."

Luckily, Pickett, the only quarterback taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, is 24 after playing five seasons collegiately at Pitt. He was exuberant against the Jets and yakking back at their defenders as they engaged him. He's probably not the kind of guy whose confidence would simply disintegrate if the Steelers become the latest team steamrolled by Buffalo.

Yet you almost wish Tomlin had resisted the urge to take Pickett's shrink wrap off against the Jets, forcing Buffalo to prepare for a player who had zero regular-season snaps on film. Just look at how much the Green Bay Packers struggled to get their arms around the undermanned New England Patriots last Sunday with rookie third-stringer Bailey Zappe forced into the fray after backup Brian Hoyer – starting in place of injured Mac Jones – left the game after suffering a blow to the head.

Unknown commodities are often the most vexing challenges to NFL defensive coordinators.

But it's not like Tomlin really had a soft stretch to insert Pickett given Pittsburgh's next three opponents after Buffalo are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles before a Week 9 bye.

However there is a clear and present danger here.

Many young quarterbacks have shattered and never recovered in the face of fierce pass rushers and swarming defenders. Remember ex-Pitt signal caller Nathan Peterman, who threw five INTs in his maiden rookie start for Buffalo in 2017? Allen was in the building just a few months later and Peterman on his way out.

These are also the same Bills who sparked the unfortunate circumstances that have spiraled around Dolphins youngster Tua Tagovailoa after linebacker Matt Milano drilled him into the turf in Week 3. Prior to that, they toyed with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford and the LA Rams in a season-opening 31-10 blowout at SoFi Stadium.

Tomlin, who inherited Ben Roethlisberger from Bill Cowher and has rarely had to manage the quarterback position – until now obviously – seems largely unconcerned.

"Kenny has shown us maturity at every point throughout this process," said Tomlin, referencing the organization's evaluation of the rookie going back to his time with Pitt, which shares the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex training with the Steelers on Pittsburgh's South Side.

"He provided a spark for us," Tomlin said of Pickett's play, which included 10 completions for 120 yards, against the Jets. He also praised the rookie's quick decision making and fluidity and added that Pickett has steadily shown progress behind the scenes as Trubisky's backup in the wake of a strong preseason.

Added Tomlin of Pickett's pending trial by fire in Western New York: "There's an expectation of quality play and playing to win."

It's a big ask behind Pittsburgh's shaky blocking, depleted defense and a relatively inexperienced group of receivers. Trubisky spent 2021 backing up Allen, and Tomlin is hoping he'll provide some intel that can ease Pickett's challenge.

But Tipico Sportsbook has already installed the Bills as 14-point favorites.

History will ultimately decide if Tomlin's decision is misguided and/or if Pickett is ready. But the baton was eventually going to be passed, and it sounds unlikely that it will revert back to Trubisky or third-stringer Mason Rudolph, even if Tomlin wouldn't go so far as to name Pickett the permanent starter.

"We don't anticipate blowing in the wind, that's not how we are," said Tomlin. "We believe in Kenny."

Time to see if he can justify that faith.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers taking risk by starting rookie QB Kenny Pickett against Bills