Pregame Blog: Steelers at Jaguars

The rotation: The Steelers take on the Jacksonville Jaguars tonight in their second preseason game, and Mitch Trubisky will once again get the start.

But the rotation after that will flip from a week ago.

Rookie No. 1 pick Kenny Pickett will follow Trubisky in the rotation, with Mason Rudolph coming in after Pickett.

“In regard to the quarterbacks, we intend to play all three in this game,” said Coach Mike Tomlin during his weekly press conference. “Mitch will start. Kenny will be next. And then Mason will finish it off.

“All three guys have performed well. I really think the main emphasis and the mentality regarding how we structured it this week, is we simply want to see Kenny in more varsity action. We know more about Mason. Mitch has been around the professional game.

“And so, this is a big week for (Kenny) in terms of maybe getting in in the first half of this game and I would imagine getting the opportunity to see frontline defenders for Jacksonville.”

Tomlin said he likes the work the quarterbacks have done so far though four weeks of training camp and one preseason game, and once again the focus this week is moving the ball, making plays and protecting the ball.

“Excited about those guys continuing to work and lead and make plays and take care of the football, all the things that we value,” said Tomlin. “Whether it’s the formal components of the job or the informal components to the job, I’ve really been impressed by the group, and we’ll just continue to sort through it day-by-day. Obviously in stadium performance is a significant component of it.”

Unlike a week ago when some of the veteran starters, including T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward, didn’t play, Tomlin said it will be more inclusive this week with all healthy players expected to see action. One player he did rule out was rookie Calvin Austin III, who was injured in practice last Friday.

“In terms of play, we’re casting a big net,” said Tomlin. “All that are healthy to this point are scheduled to play….