In the upcoming Thursday night matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Steelers will be starting their second quarterback of the 2023 season, Mitch Trubisky. But is Trubisky a downgrade for the Steelers' offense compared to their previous quarterback, Kenny Pickett?
Looking at advanced passing stats, the Steelers have some of the worst numbers in the league. However, most of these numbers are not reflective of Trubisky's performance. In fact, there is reason to believe that Trubisky could actually be a downgrade for the offense.
Both Trubisky and Pickett have struggled when throwing to Diontae Johnson, but Pickett has been slightly better overall. On the other hand, both quarterbacks have found success when targeting George Pickens, with Pickett benefitting more from Pickens' abilities.
The Titans' pass defense is not particularly formidable, but they do generate a high pressure rate, which could pose problems for Trubisky playing behind the Steelers' offensive line, ranked 22nd in the league.
In contrast, Tennessee's quarterback Will Levis, who will also be making his second appearance, has already shown promise as a major upgrade for the Titans' passing game. In his first game, Levis threw four touchdown passes on just 29 attempts and has overall better advanced stats compared to the Steelers' duo.
While it's still early in the season, there are indications that Trubisky may not be the best choice for the Steelers' offense. Only time will tell if he can prove otherwise in their upcoming game.