Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett is expected to make his first start with the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickett was the backup QB for the Eagles last year during their Super Bowl title run.
Raiders starting QB Geno Smith, who’s dealing with a shoulder injury, is considered unlikely to start on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
In relief of Smith on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, Pickett completed 8 of 11 passes (72.7%) for 97 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 129.7.
Pickett was traded twice this offseason, first by the Eagles to the Cleveland Browns. And then in late August, Cleveland sent Pickett to Las Vegas in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
#Raiders QB Geno Smith, dealing with a shoulder injury, is considered unlikely to start on Sunday, sources say. He won’t practice today.
That would put Kenny Pickett in line to start against the #Eagles, his former team. pic.twitter.com/N99FxWImkG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 10, 2025
To say the least, Pickett had a tumultuous two-year tenure with the Steelers. He never lived up to expectations and he had a rocky departure from the organization. Pickett wasn’t happy after the Steelers acquired veteran Russell Wilson in March of 2024 and requested a trade. The Steelers obliged and sent him cross-state to Philadelphia.
The Steelers saddled Pickett with a failure of an offensive coordinator in Matt Canada, and despite his status as a veteran college player with ton of starting experience, he never fit in as a leader in a veteran locker room.
Pickett’s reputation in Pittsburgh took a big hit, as many in the fanbase thought he showcased diva-like characteristics for not wanting to compete with Wilson for the starting quarterback spot. On the flip side, while not the majority, there’s a portion of the fanbase that believe the Steelers mistreated Pickett and betrayed him.
Despite how things ended, Pickett holds no hard feelings toward the Steelers.
“The offseason was crazy. Everyone’s journey is different. It’s the NFL. It’s a tough league,” Pickett said on 93.7 The Fan in February. “So I’m kind of just taking it a day at a time, being where my feet are, putting everything into my craft, working hard. We’ll see what happens.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Kenny Pickett Expected to Make First Start with Raiders
