Victory Bell Rings
Fansided

Former Penn State quarterback, Trace McSorley, signed to Steelers practice squad

By Josh Yourish

Sep 8, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) scrambles with the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) scrambles with the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

On Monday afternoon, a day after Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a high ankle sprain that required surgery, the Steelers added former Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley to their practice squad, per Adam Schefter. McSorley last played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals in 2022, the team that beat Pittsburgh on Sunday.

After suffering the injury on a scramble near the goalline, Pickett was replaced by backup Mitch Trubisky, who is likely to start when the Steelers host the New England Patriots on Thursday night. Mason Rudolph, who started eight games for the Steelers in 2019, and last played in 2021, will serve as Trubisky’s backup.

McSorley began this season with the New England Patriots, and after being cut, spent a month on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad. He will likely serve as Pittsburgh’s emergency third quarterback.

Following his memorable career at Penn State, McSorley was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He took his first NFL snap against the Steelers in 2019, a one-yard run.

Then, in 2020, McSorley took his first snaps of his second season against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. He went 2-6 passing for 77 yards and a touchdown in the 19-14 loss. Last season, was his most extensive stretch as an NFL quarterback, starting one game and playing in six for Arizona, after Kyler Murray tore his ACL.

McSorley’s familiarity with then Heinz Field, now Acrisure Stadium, dates back to his time at Penn State. He played there twice in his three seasons as the starting quarterback, going 1-1, including a 42-39 loss in Week 2 of 2016 that ultimately kept the Nittany Lions out of the College Football Playoff.

In 2018, Penn State beat Pitt and sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett 51-6. McSorley threw for 145 yards on 14 of 30 passing in rainy conditions and ran for 36 yards and a touchdown. Pickett had not yet begun adopted his gloved throwing hand and only went 9/18 for 55 yards with an interception.

Home/Penn State Football