Mike Tomlin provides injury update on Kenny Pickett
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin provided an injury update for quarterback Kenny Pickett on Tuesday following an injury he sustained versus the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
According to Steelers writer Teresa Varley, Tomlin confirmed that Pickett has in fact entered concussion protocol but nothing is definitive regarding his status for their next game against the Carolina Panthers. Varley also added that Picket’s status will be day-to-day, but Tomlin does value participation in practice, and if he can work he’ll work, but if not reps will be split between Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph.
Pickett went down early in the Steelers’ latest matchup, as he was sacked hard by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith on their first offensive possession of the game. It appeared that Pickett’s head my contact with the ground on the play and he entered concussion protocol and would never return to the game.
Pickett was replaced by Trubisky, who started the first four games of the season before being replaced by Pickett. Trubisky struggled in his relief role against the Ravens throwing three interceptions in a 16-14 loss to a team also fighting through injury in Baltimore, who was missing star quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sunday and lost backup Tyler Huntley to injury in the third quarter.
Pickett led the Steelers to two straight wins prior to his injury, as the Steelers hope for a speedy recovery from their first-round draft pick with four games remaining in the regular season.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett enters concussion protocol versus Baltimore
During the Steelers versus Ravens game on Sunday afternoon, quarterback Kenny Pickett took a hit that sent him into concussion protocol. Pittsburgh announced that Pickett is out for the rest of the game.
In his place, the Steelers are rolling with Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky will try to pull the team out of a three-point deficit versus Baltimore with 12 minutes left in the second quarter. Prior to his exit, Pickett was 0-1 passing with one sack. He also had 16 yards on two rushes. Najee Harris scored the first touchdown of the game with a one-yard run.
This is the Steelers’ first of two matchups versus Baltimore in the span of a month. Pittsburgh is 5-7 while the Ravens are 8-4 on the year.
The Steelers had a questionable injury situation heading into the game on Sunday.
Star edge rusher T.J. Watt was questionable for the contest after missing Thursday’s practice. He was a limited participant in practice on Friday, the same as Wednesday.
Diontae Johnson, one of the Steelers’ top pass catchers, is also questionable after following the same practice participation pattern as Watt. While Watt is unquestionably the best player on the Pittsburgh defense — and likely the team — Johnson is an integral part of the passing game.
The only other player limited for Pittsburgh entering the weekend was linebacker Malik Reed. Reed missed practice on Wednesday but fully participated the next two days.