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Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Gives Solid Reasoning For Starting Fight With Bills DE Shaq Lawson

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The Pittsburgh Steelers gave first-round pick Kenny Pickett his first-career start at quarterback on Sunday. Pickett made his debut a week ago in a sub role against the New York Jets. But his first start represented an entirely different challenge as he took on Super Bowl-favorite Buffalo on the road.

Unsurprisingly, things didn’t go all that well for the Pitt Panthers’ product. Pickett went 34-of-52 (!) for 310 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. As the stat line suggests, the Steelers got completely shellacked by the Bills. Buffalo led 31-3 at the half and eased off the gas in the second half, coasting to a 38-3 victory.

But one Pickett moment didn’t stand out.

The rookie got in a skirmish with Buffalo defensive end Shaq Lawson that led to both teams coming together for a dust-up.

Kenny Pickett Says Shaq Lawson Fight Was A Result Of Dirty Hit

Pickett’s teammates quickly came to his defense in the kerfuffle and Pickett says that he was justified in the shove he gave Lawson after the play.

“From my opinion, I felt like he went after my knee after I threw it,” Pickett said. “That’s it. You know, tempers flare. I don’t care, I’m gonna keep playing to the last play of the game. That was it. All good with me.”

The video seems to back up Pickett’s description of the play.

Pickett also took a big hit earlier in the game while sliding to avoid former Pitt teammate Damar Hamlin. In that incident, Steelers’ tackle James Daniels quickly rushed to his defense.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t happy with the lack of a flag on the play.

“I had a problem that the officials didn’t have a problem, not necessarily Hamlin,” he said. “I love Ham. He a 412er. He plays hard. He’s a good kid. I had a problem with the fact that it wasn’t officiated in a way that I anticipated it being officiated.”

Things don’t get any easier for Pickett next week as the Steelers play host to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers and another of the league’s best defenses.