Timing is everything. And everyone in Pittsburgh seems to be itching for Pitt hero-turned Steeler Kenny Pickett to begin his NFL quarterbacking career on Week 1 of his rookie year.

Whether impatient Pittsburgh fans get what they want could largely depend on the about-to-be-released 2022 NFL schedule. If the Steelers’ slate of games is frontloaded with winnable ones -- such as the Browns, the Jets, the Falcons and even Miami or New Orleans – this would make it far easier to justify starting the rookie Pickett over the more-established free agent, Mitch Trubisky. But if that schedule presents an early-season wall of worry, dominated by dates against the Ravens, Raiders, Buccaneers, Patriots and even the Eagles? It might cause Steelers coaches to proceed with caution. In other words, keep Pickett on the bench and throw Trubisky to the wolves, instead.

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