Kenny Pickett defends his character, admits he will be the backup QB vs. Ravens

Kenny Pickett spoke to the media on Tuesday morning, and the former first-round pick gave them an earful. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback was furious about how he was being portrayed by the media.

Pickett claims that he felt his character was being attacked by several fraudulant reports out there. One such rumor from Mark Madden was that Pickett was deemed healthy, but refused to be the backup quarterback against the Seattle Seahwks in Week 17. Apparently, there's no truth to this.

Pickett insists that if he was healthy enough, he would have been named the starter over Mason Rudolph this week. Here's what he had to say, via ESPN's Brooke Pryor on X.

""I saw reports out there that I feel like were attacking my character and how I am as a person. I don't even want to get into the player standpoint of it. There was no talk of me being a backup quarterback this week in terms of being a [number] two. If I was healthy enough to play and the trainers and coaches felt like I looked good enough to play, I was going to start and play."

- Kenny Pickett via Brooke Pryor

If this is true, this would go against what most fans assumed. After Mason Rudolph has recorded over 30 points per game and 400 yards per contests while recording a 115.3 passer rating over the past two weeks, most of us predicted that Tomlin would roll with the hot hand -- even if Pickett was fully healthy.

According to Pickett's words, he would have been the guy under center this week if he was deemed healthy enough to play and start. Pickett also admitted that there was no truth about him being the emergency third quarterback, and that he will serve as the backup this week in the event of an injury to Rudolph.

"This week I am now the [number] two. They feel good four weeks out of the surgery for me to dress and to be the two, so I will be the two and do what I have to do to get ready for Baltimore."

- Kenny Pickett via Brooke Pryor

Pickett's character came into question by some in the media after a few short and questionable responses when asked about Mason Rudolph's performance and whether or not he helped the veteran prepare.

Pickett will be the backup against the Ravens in the season finale this week. If the Steelers sneak into the postseason, it will be interseting to see what Mike Tomlin decides at the quarterback position, as Pickett insists he would have played this week if he was healthy.