Penn State QB Trace McSorley embracing opportunity on Steelers practice squad
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Perhaps Trace McSorley genuinely never made the connection. Or maybe he was just trying to be polite to his new teammate.
But per McSorley, he hadn’t recalled that he had played a game — in the very venue now called Acrisure Stadium, no less — against another member of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback room, Kenny Pickett.
Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan had to compel McSorley and Pickett to remember the details of the evening they faced each other in college, Sept. 8, 2018.
“It was his first year starting (at Pitt),” McSorley said, “and it was my last year at (Penn) State.
“What I remember was that it was a September game, but it was like 40 degrees and rainy. For the first week of the season, miserable.”
Moreso miserable for Pickett, whose Panthers lost 51-6 as McSorley had two passing touchdowns and one rushing.
McSorley didn’t want to dwell on that result. But he has noticed how — despite his Virginia roots — Pittsburgh repeatedly has taken a significant place in McSorley’s life. McSorley spent plenty of time in Pittsburgh with his college roommates who were from the area. And in addition to that big win as a senior, McSorley’s first college road start (and second overall) came at what was then called Heinz Field in 2016 when he had 332 passing yards but his Nittany Lions lost 42-39 to the Panthers.
Additionally, McSorley’s first regular-season action as a pro was against the Steelers during the 2019 finale when he was with the Baltimore Ravens. His first regular-season pass — and touchdown pass — came during a game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh the next year.
Last week, Pittsburgh again became prominent in McSorley’s life when the Steelers called offering him a gig on their practice squad.
“I have always had an affection for it,” McSorley said of Pittsburgh, “so it feels good to be back in, not my home state, but the state where I played college ball at.”
McSorley was summoned because Pickett is unavailable for multiple weeks — he will miss a second consecutive game Saturday — because of an ankle injury.
“Really, just taking it one day at a time,” he said. “Come in here, want to try to learn the playbook and then when you get out to practice (running the scout team) try to get the best look for the defense that I can and try to make some plays and do some things there, just trying to get back to seeing the field, seeing defenses, things I haven’t been able to do when I haven’t been on a team.”
McSorley led Penn State to the 2016 Big Ten title and berths in the Rose and Fiesta bowls over his three-year tenure as a college starter. He said he still closely follows the program and keeps in regular touch with coach James Franklin.
A 2019 sixth-round pick of the Ravens, McSorley threw 10 passes in three appearances over three seasons for Baltimore. He was signed off the Ravens’ practice squad by the Arizona Cardinals in November 2021, starting for them for a Christmas Day 2022 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McSorley completed 24 of 45 passes for 217 yards and an interception in a 19-16 loss.
McSorley spent this past spring and training camp with the New England Patriots but was cut before the season started. A five-week span on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad followed, but McSorley had been out of football for two weeks when the Steelers called.
“ ‘Hey, are you healthy? Can you come in?’ ” McSorley said, recalling the call. “ ‘Alright, cool.’ And from there it’s just get up to speed as fast as possible.”
Now 28 years old and with his fifth organization over five years in the league, McSorley has no assurances from the Steelers that he will be here any longer than it takes Pickett to get healthy.
But he also holds the belief he can succeed at the NFL level and recognizes the opportunity to show management he’s worthy of keeping around.
“I still have that confidence in myself. That’s never gone away,” he said. “I felt OK coming out of the game against the Bucs last year. We ended up losing, but I played OK and for a first start felt good about it. But then didn’t work out there. I know if I ever do get another shot, I know have been able to come out and show I can be productive. I know what I can do, it’s just getting that opportunity.”