Steelers' Kenny Pickett gets second-team reps in practice

The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback competition involving free-agent signing Mitchell Trubisky, career backup Mason Rudolph and first-round draft selection Kenny Pickett has mostly been a formality throughout the spring and summer. While Trubisky has remained comfortably atop the depth chart, Rudolph had routinely handled second-team work ahead of Pickett. 

That changed when Pittsburgh began padded practices on Monday.

Per Kevin Patra of the NFL's website and Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Pickett received second-team reps on the opening day of August. Some may be hoping this could indicate the 24-year-old is slowly but surely inching toward becoming the team's QB1, but head coach Mike Tomlin was quick to point out that mixing things up at this point of the process was always part of the plan. 

"There will be more of that. All of those guys are running in all groups, it's just part of team development," Tomlin explained. 

Understandably, a reporter then asked Tomlin if outsiders should read anything into Pickett spending time as the No. 2 option at the sport's most important position. 

"You should not, but I'm sure you will," Tomlin responded. 

Multiple insiders previously suggested the Steelers could shop Rudolph to a team in need of a signal-caller during or shortly after the preseason if Tomlin and company believe Pickett is ready to be Trubisky's primary backup by the end of this month. For now, all will be waiting to see who gets more reps between Rudolph and Pickett when Pittsburgh opens its preseason schedule versus the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 13.