Report: Former Steelers QB Expected To Make First Start Of Season Week 15

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is reportedly expected to make his first start in nearly one year when his Las Vegas Raiders visit the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.

“#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,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport posted on X Wednesday afternoon.

#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

Pickett spent the first two seasons of his career with the Steelers after the organization selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The 27-year-old largely struggled during his two years with Pittsburgh, recording 13 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 25 games (24 starts) with the team.

The Steelers traded Pickett to the Eagles in March 2024, where he won a Super Bowl ring as Jalen Hurts’ backup. Pickett went 25-for-42 with 291 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception in five games (one start) last season and was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March.

He was then moved yet again, as the Browns shipped him to the Raiders in August in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Pickett has gone just 10-for-14 with 105 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions across three games in relief of Geno Smith this season. Almost all of that production came in Week 14, when the former first-round pick finished 8-for-11 with 97 yards and one touchdown after Smith was injured.

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