Steelers fans upset Huntley named as Pro Bowl alternate over Kenny Pickett
By Tommy Jaggi
Pittsburgh Steelers fans have a right to be upset with somebody other than Kenny Pickett being added to the Pro Bowl roster to replace Josh Allen.
For various reasons every year, players who were named to the Pro Bowl end up backing out just weeks or even days before the event is set to take place. T.J. Watt is guilty of this last week, as he will not be in attendance this year. Now just days ahead of the 2023 Pro Bowl, Josh Allen has decided to back out of the contest, and his replacement has Pittsburgh Steelers fans all riled up.
Instead of turning to someone like Justin Herbert, the NFL has announced that Ravens backup QB Tyler Huntley will replace Allen in the Pro Bowl games, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport confirms.
Huntley’s production was incredibly unspectacular this season. Since taking over for Lamar Jackson in the second half of the season, Huntley averaged a dismal 5.9 yards per attempt to go with a despicable 5.0 adjusted yards per attempt. Additionally, Huntley threw just 2 touchdown passes despite playing in 6 games (4 starts) and a QBR of just 41.2
Steelers fans wanted Kenny Pickett as the Pro Bowl alternate
With Tyler Huntley being named as the Pro Bowl alternate this year, Steelers fans obviously have a right to be upset. Kenny Pickett was clearly the more impressive player in 2022. Fans took to social media to share their frustration with this decision:
Kenny Pickett far more deserving of a Pro Bowl alternate spot than Tyler Huntley.
— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) January 31, 2023
Tyler Huntley: 658 pass yards, 2 TD, 3 INT, 137 rush yards, 1 rush TD, 77.2 QB rating
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) January 31, 2023
Kenny Pickett: 2404 pass yards, 7 TD, 9 INT, 237 rush yards, 3 rush TD, 76.7 QB rating
Pickett must’ve declined the Pro Bowl invite, right? #Steelers
Unless he declined the invite, Kenny Pickett should have made the Pro Bowl over Tyler Huntley. Regardless, the Pro Bowl is so irrelevant now. #Steelers #NFL
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) January 31, 2023
By no means did Kenny Pickett deserve to make the Pro Bowl.... BUT he's much more deserving than Huntley!
— Steelers Tweeter (@SteelersFan__) January 31, 2023
More games, completions, yards, TDs, better TD:INT ratio, higher ANY/A, higher QBR, higher PFF grade, AND better rushing stats. https://t.co/W4Prw1ciTw
Even more reason to put absolutely no value into Pro Bowl nominations. 658 passing yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs. 3-3 as a starter. Derek Carr had a better season and was actually a starting QB. Based on Huntley’s stats, Kenny Pickett has a better case for a pro bowl nod. Inexcusable https://t.co/NjvCWUH0bp
— Tyler Mills (@IamTylerMills) January 31, 2023
Kenny Pickett, Jacoby Brissett, Mac Jones, and Derek Carr are all significantly more deserving of the Pro Bowl than Tyler Huntley.
— Pat Pryor (@PryorNFL) January 31, 2023
AFC QB who deserved more of a pro bowl nod than Tyler Huntley. Jacoby Brisset, Kenny Pickett, Derek Carr, Russell Wilson, and Mac Jones. Honestly just don’t have 3 QB
— James Ruth (@jruthofficial) January 31, 2023
While Pickett had a rocky start to his NFL career, the rookie QB really pulled things together following the bye week — going 7-2 down the stretch and earning back-to-back game-winning touchdown times on Christmas Eve and New Year’s.
Admittedly, Pickett didn’t put up spectacular numbers either. However, he executed Matt Canada’s uncreative game plan and took care of the football down the stretch — throwing just one interception since Week 8. He also showed up big in key moments as he mounted four game-winning touchdown drives during his rookie season.
The best answer here is to have neither of these quarterbacks in the Pro Bowl. But knowing how unspectacular Huntley was this past season, I don’t blame fans for being upset. With quarterbacks always backing out, perhaps each conference should only name two Pro Bowl QBs.
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The hope is that Kenny Pickett will get here soon in the near future (deservingly and on his own). As a fan, I wouldn’t read too much into the Pro Bowl nomination. It doesn’t mean a lot in the grand scheme of things.