The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) became the third team in the AFC North to lose their starting quarterback probably for the remainder of the season when Kenny Pickett got caught in a play last Sunday leading up to ankle surgery on Monday, ruling him out for the next few weeks.
In a move to cover for Pickett's absence, the Steelers signed a backup quarterback to their practice squad ahead of Thursday Night Football's clash against the New England Patriots, inking former Ravens QB Trace McSorley. ESPN insider Adam Schefter first reported the news.
With Kenny Pickett undergoing ankle surgery this morning, the Steelers are signing free-agent QB Trace McSorley to their practice squad, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2023
Even though McSorley will be available to play on TNF, the belief is that Pittsburgh will start Mitch Trubisky against New England with McSorely and fellow reserve Mason Rudolph backing up the veteran while Pickett works on his rehab before attempting a late-season comeback.
McSorley entered the league in 2019 out of Penn State as a sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in that year's draft. He's had playing stints with Baltimore and Arizona over the past four seasons, getting signed by Chicago and New England earlier this football season though he never got to appear in a game.
During his two years with the Ravens, McSorley appeared in three games completing 3-of-10 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. Back in 2021, the Arizona Cardinals signed him off the Ravens' practice squad. McSorely played six games for the Cardinals including one start. He completed 45 passes for 412 yards without any touchdown against five interceptions.
Earlier this season, McSorley spent time on the practice squads of the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots. The Pats signed McSorely in April but released the quarterback on cut-day at the end of August. He briefly joined the Bears earlier in the season after getting cut by New England.
McSorley is going to have it hard to find a way to appear in a game while with Pittsburgh.
If only for a week, however, he might be able to add some value to his signing by revealing some of the secrets hidden in the Patriots' playbook ahead of their matchup against Pitt as the QB was part of the team back in the summer.
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