Mitch Trubisky will start the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday.
Trubisky, who was voted one of the Steelers’ five captains on Monday, was listed as the starter on the depth chart released Monday, but Tomlin hadn’t publicly announced his decision.
“We’re just really comfortable with what Mitch has shown us,” Tomlin said, also citing Trubisky’s experience as a franchise quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
Rookie Kenny Pickett, selected by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2022 draft, will be the backup quarterback, and Tomlin said the Steelers are pleased with his development.
Veteran Mason Rudolph is the No. 3 quarterback.
On Monday’s initial depth chart, Rudolph had been listed as the backup, with Pickett at No. 3. The order was adjusted on Tuesday before Tomlin’s news conference, and the coach called the mix-up a “clerical error.”
A veteran signed to a two-year, $14.2 million contract in free agency, Trubisky was the favorite in a three-man race entering training camp. The No. 2 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2016, Trubisky arrived in Pittsburgh after a year as Josh Allen‘s backup with the Buffalo Bills.
He started all three preseason games this year and completed 24 of 34 attempts for 283 yards and two touchdowns. He seemingly sealed the starting job in the final preseason game when he played the entire first half and closed the second quarter with an efficient 1-minute, 20-second touchdown drive, completing all six attempts for 83 yards.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.