Kenny Pickett denies rumors he refused to be Steelers' QB2 Sunday - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett on Tuesday strongly denied rumors that he refused to dress as the backup to Mason Rudolph against the Seahawks.

«It was either I was going to start and play,» Pickett said, «or if they didn't think I was good enough to do that, healthy enough, I was going to be the 3 and not dress.»

Pickett, who was inactive for the Week 17 win against the Seahawks despite being designated as questionable before the game, opened up the five-minute scrum with local media Tuesday by saying the rumors, which began spreading on social media Sunday night, were false and were «attacking my character and how I am as a person.»

«There was no talk of me being a backup quarterback this week in terms of being a 2,» Pickett said. «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. If they believed that I was not — which they believed I was not — I was not going to dress and suit up for the game.

»So, whoever reported that, I don't know where it started, it's kind of crazy what people will write and put out there to try to prove their point or help their standpoint or their careers and what you guys do. But disappointed to see that without any proof or basis of it."

Pickett, who had TightRope surgery for a high ankle sprain on Dec. 4 and was medically cleared to play late last week, also said he will dress and be the No. 2 quarterback behind Rudolph in Saturday's regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens.

«This week I'm now the 2,» Pickett said. «They feel good four weeks out of the surgery for me to dress and be the 2. So I'll be the 2 and do what I have to do to be ready to go from Baltimore.»

Pickett hasn't