The rookie quarterback came on at the start of the second half of the Week 4 game against the Jets, making an impact with two rushing touchdowns. However, Pickett eventually threw three costly interceptions as his team fell to a 1-3 record.

The Steelers now look ready to move forward with Pickett, but Sunday’s lossleft many concerned. Big Ben has once again taken to his podcast to weigh in on the team’s situation, sharing advice both for the coaching staff and Pickett.

Ben Roethlisberger’s tip to Keny Pickett, Steelers

“I think he’s beating himself up a little bit on the (second) interception,” Roethlisberger said on the latest episode of his podcast, via Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports. “He texted me saying, ‘I’ve got throw that one away.’ I’m like, ‘Listen, you’re talking to the guy that rarely threw a ball away. So just go play with confidence.’

“He drifted a little bit, which I thought he did a good job getting away from the pressure. And he even said, ‘I kind of tried to throw it out there to Pat … I probably should have thrown it away.’ Of course it’s easy to say that now, but if he completes it, you’d be saying that it was a great play. We’ve all had those. … But at the end of the day, if he plays this game for a long time, he’s going to have more opportunities to go both directions. To throw it away, or to complete that ball.”

Big Ben not only believes that Pickett should trust his gut and go for it, but he also thinks the play-calling should favor the young signal-caller. For him, the team should lean on the passing game.

“You can’t be a predictable offense,” Roethlisberger said. “I’m not saying that they are, but if feels like what I’m hearing from guys is we’ve got to do something different. I’d like to see them drop back and pass a little more. … Let’s throw on first, second and third down. Let’s see what happens, or throw four or five in a row. As a quarterback,you want to get into a rhythm. Whether that’s a three-yard down or (something down the field).”

For some time, Mike Tomlin refused to confirm who would be the starter in the post-Big Ben era. The QB battle in Pittsburgh looked wide open with Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph all fighting for the starting role.

Eventually, the 2017 second overall pick had the upper hand. But it took only two weeks for fans to start booing Trubisky while chanting for Pickett, something that Roethlisberger didn’t seem to like that much.

Ben Roethlisberger feels Steelers fans’ booing of Mitchell Trubisky is unfair

“I just don’t think it’s fair,” Roethlisberger said in his new podcast, via CBS Sports. “I wouldn’t blame Mitch for the performance (on Sunday). Did he miss a couple throws? Yes, every quarterback does. I just saw Aaron Rodgers miss a throw and he’s one of the greatest to ever play. It’s going to happen sometimes. I don’t think that he deserved the fans getting on him today, because sometimes you’re playing within the system. And I’m not trying to say that it’s on Matt Canada, either.

“I thought it was a little early, a little unfair to start booing. I think the boo birds were more for the offense in general. But I think, just the fact that they were starting to chant some Kenny stuff. … I hate it for Mitchell because I just don’t think it’s fair yet. But that’s just my opinion.“

Mitchell Trubisky takes blame for Steelers’ loss to Patriots

Roethlisberger, however, admitted that the Steelers could have been more aggressive in their 13-7 home defeat to the Patriots – something that Trubisky also acknowledged.

“It’s there, and we had our opportunities,” Trubisky said, per Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I think earlier, I can take shots downfield. I think I can look for 14 more often, George. He’s doing a great job for us, and I just gotta get these playmakers the football. Whatever route they’re running, I just gotta get them the ball. It really comes down to me making better decisions, being aggressive and putting ourselves in that position.”

It’s certainly not a great way to start for Trubisky, who has a point to prove to the rest of the league this season. The Steelers have an opportunity to bounce back on Thursday night against the Browns.