In the offseason, backup QB Marcus Mariota was out of contract and the Eagles did not re-sign him. However, he signed with the Commanders and found a new home. To fill the backup QB vacancy, the Eagles traded QB Kenny Pickett to the Steelers. Philadelphia exchanged Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round pick for a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-round picks.
Pickett spent the first two seasons of his career with the Steelers. He went 14-10 in 24 starts, and went 7-5 in the second straight season. His time in Pittsburgh didn’t work out, but the Eagles were willing to sign Pickett as their backup. Jale Hurts is the undisputed starter for the Eagles. It never hurts to have a capable backup QB. Kenny Pickett fits that role perfectly. Despite struggling in the second preseason game Thursday night, head coach Nick Sirianni announced that Pickett is the team’s backup QB for 2024.
Kenny Pickett is the Eagles’ backup QB, according to coach Nick Sirianni.
#eagle HC Nick Siriani reiterated that Kenny Pickett is the backup to Jelen Hurts after Thursday night’s preseason game.
Pickett went 11 of 13 for 67 yards with four sacks, and QB3 Tanner Mackey went 15 of 19 for 140 yards and zero sacks in the win over New England. pic.twitter.com/PWNf1yagMu
— Ari Meiroff (@MySportsUpdate) August 16, 2024
Kenny Pickett, who spent two seasons in Pittsburgh, wasn’t the player the Steelers expected him to be. Pickett threw for 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. After a rough start, Pickett is getting a fresh start with the Eagles. There was a lot of pressure on Pickett to succeed with the Steelers, but he didn’t live up to expectations. But at 26, he’s now Philadelphia’s backup. All Pickett has to do is be ready to play if Jalen Hurts misses time. It’s an easier role for the former first-round pick.
Kenny Pickett struggled in the Eagles’ preseason game against the Patriots on Thursday. He was the first QB to start in Philadelphia. Head coach Nick Siriani has sat his starters in the preseason for the past two years. Pickett went 11-of-13 for 67 yards against the Patriots, but was sacked four times. Third-team QB Tanner Mackey came into the game in the third quarter and started slowly. Siriani turned to Will Grier, but quickly got back to Mackey, who took advantage of the second opportunity. Mackey finished the game 15-of-19, ran for 140 yards, and was not sacked. That sparked some debate about who the Eagles’ backup QB should be. Nick Siriani put an end to that debate, saying Kenny Pickett will be the backup in 2024.
