Mitch Trubisky trying to strike balance for Steelers offense in 1st start for injured Kenny Pickett

Subbing for a quarterback who recently underwent “tightrope” surgery, Mitch Trubisky also is walking a fine line these days.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ backup-turned-starter in the wake of Kenny Pickett’s high ankle sprain, Trubisky must navigate between being aggressive in trying to score points for one of the NFL’s least productive offenses versus the risk of committing turnovers with that let-it-fling mentality.

It’s the crossroads Trubisky finds himself approaching Thursday when he makes his first start for the Steelers in nearly a year when they face the New England Patriots at Acrisure Stadium.

“You want to be aggressive, but if you’re too safe with the football, you’re not going to move it,” Trubisky said Tuesday after practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “You have to know what you can do. You have to take care of the football at the end of the day, but sometimes you’ve got to believe in yourself that you can make the throws down the field to score points.”

Trubisky has been on both sides of the equation in his two years with the Steelers. Tasked to replace Ben Roethlisberger in 2022 while also keeping the seat warm for Pickett, Trubisky was perhaps too concerned about not making mistakes that he lost his job at halftime of his fourth start.

The issue at the time was one that would become habit forming with this Steelers offense. He was benched after the Steelers scored four touchdowns in three-and-a-half games with him as the starter. This year, with Pickett starting each of the first 12 games, the offense has totaled 16 touchdowns. Trubisky has been responsible for two of those scores over the span of his three relief appearances.

The Patriots, despite a 2-10 record, have allowed just 26 points combined over the past three games, and Trubisky will enter with an offense that is averaging 16 points a game after getting 10 against Arizona on Sunday. Only four teams are averaging fewer points a game.

“We have to find ways to score points,” Trubisky said, “and I’m trying to be that catalyst.”

Trubisky displayed more confidence in his final start of 2022 when he filled in for a concussed Pickett and led the Steelers to a 24-16 victory at Carolina. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 179 yards and had no touchdowns or interceptions.

This year, with the Steelers trailing in all three of Trubisky’s appearances, he has completed 29 of 49 passes for 273 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Against the Patriots, he is looking forward to being on equal footing when he enters the game.

“I know I’m a lot more calm when I know I’m starting,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about when I’m going in. I’m starting the game, and I can control it from there.”

It’s a small sample size, but Trubisky has shown a knack for unleashing the deep ball more frequently than Pickett, who will miss multiple games after having his ankle repaired. Where Pickett has attempted passes of at least 20 yards in distance on 8.6% of his throws this season, Trubisky has done it on 16.3 of his throws.

“He enjoys ‘shot’ plays, and we’re calling shots to take them,” interim offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner said. “When you’ve got guys like 14 (George Pickens) and 18 (Diontae Johnson) — guys who can make plays down the grass for you – you want to take those shots.”

Trubisky is the latest AFC backup quarterback to be thrust into a starting role as contenders fight for playoff positioning. Count the Steelers among division rivals Cleveland and Cincinnati, plus AFC South teams Jacksonville and Indianapolis, as teams trying to win with a backup this month.

“One thing I’ve known about Mitch is he hasn’t flinched at all,” Faulkner said. “Going back to last year, he comes in every day, he has his hard hat on going to work. That makes you feel good as a coach. You know he’s preparing himself the proper way. I don’t think anything has changed. He prepares like he’s going to be starting.”

Unlike some of the other AFC teams dealing with a quarterback shuffle, the Steelers take solace in Trubisky’s experience as a starter. He made 50 starts in four seasons with Chicago and spent a year backing up Josh Allen in Buffalo before signing with the Steelers in free agency last season.

“I’m still growing and learning and trying to get better every day,” he said. “I’ve got some experience under my belt. But I’ve made some good plays. For me, it’s going to be consistency and doing what I can, trusting this offense and going out and making plays.”