With Kenny Pickett taking over, are George Pickens and other Steelers rookies poised to break out?
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On the steamy fields of Saint Vincent and throughout preseason games in August, a theme appeared to emerge in evaluating the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers: by all indications, they had a strong incoming rookie class.
During the first month of the regular season, though, plays from Steelers rookies generally were few and far between.
The calendar has flipped to October, and perhaps so have the fortunes of the Steelers rookie class. A handful of developments among the team’s least experienced players suggest their time is coming — quickly.
“As a rookie class, we are deep and we are solid,” sixth-round tight end Connor Heyward said. “It’s just sometimes, it takes time. But time will tell and show a lot of people what we are capable of doing.”
Through the first three weeks of the season, the rookies who made the most discernible impact were the backup running back (Jaylen Warren), a rotational defensive lineman (DeMarvin Leal) and an ultra-talented receiver (George Pickens) whose stat line disappointed more than wowed.
Warren, an undrafted rookie running back, paced Steelers rookies with 52 snaps played on offense or defense. Leal, a third-round pick, made it on the field for 46 defensive plays. Pickens, a second-round pick, started two of the Steelers’ first three games and played more than three-quarters of their offensive snaps. But an incredible one-handed catch in Cleveland Browns aside, he had only five catches for 65 yards in those three games.
Other than Pickens, Warren and Leal, Heyward’s 11 offensive snaps were the only ones any Steelers rookie played on offense or defense.
“You don’t want to give a rookie too much,” Heyward said, “you want to just slowly ease them into it. It’s an 18-week season, so I am just going to do my job, stay locked in and stay ready for my moments.”
Pickens, first-round pick Kenny Pickett and fourth-rounder Calvin Austin III each waited for their moments, and in recent days all showed signs their careers are progressing.
Pickett, of course, was elevated to starting quarterback. Pickens had his first 100-yard receiving game, more than doubling his production through three games with six catches for 102 yards Sunday against the New York Jets. Perhaps more telling is that four of those catches and 71 of those yards came in the second half after Pickett relieved Mitch Trubisky.
“You saw the connection (Pickett) and ‘GP’ had this past week,” Heyward said. “I think I have a really good connection with him, as well. Calvin does, too.”
It was a daily occurrence during training camp that Pickett and Heyward would connect, often for multiple throws. It even showed during the preseason, when in the opener Pickett suggested to coaches that Heyward come onto the field for a second-half 2-point conversion for a play call that worked, in part, because of the chemistry the two had developed during camp.
During the early part of camp, Pickett likewise often appeared on the same wavelength with Austin, a speedster whom the Steelers expect to make big plays. But Austin suffered a foot injury just before the preseason games began and was placed on injured reserve when the season started.
He was cleared to return to practice this week, signaling he likely will make his NFL debut during one of these next three games.
Meanwhile, Leal has been playing an increasingly visible role (especially with T.J. Watt out). Seventh-round inside linebacker Mark Robinson might not be far behind. Robinson has been a healthy scratch for all four games this season after an impressive training camp and preseason.
“It’s hard playing as a rookie in this league,” said left tackle Dan Moore, who was one of seven members of last year’s draft class who contributed significantly as rookies. “Some guys it comes natural, and obviously some guys have their bumps and bruises.
“I think our rookies have taken the challenge well and handled it well. I think they have made the most of their moments, and I think they are making plays and they are going to continue to do so.”
If the 2022 rookie class pans out, they could join a 2021 class that included first-round pick Najee Harris, second-rounder Pat Freiermuth, fourth-rounder Moore, fifth-round defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk and seventh-round picks Tre Norwood and Pressley Harvin III as youngsters who helped transform the Steelers roster from an aging group to one that has a young nucleus for years to come.
“That’s for sure been a conversation,” Harris said of this core sticking together for a new era. “We are really young — Kenny, Pat, Jaylen, Dan. … We could go on and on. We are young, but we just need to keep keeping our head down, grinding through, keep learning and keep growing every day.”
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