Kenny Pickett: 'I'm playing for sure' against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football
Nobody can ever accuse Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett of not being tough, that’s for sure.
After the Pittsburgh quarterback left the Steelers’ 20-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday due to an injury to his ribs, fans have been waiting patiently to hear about his availability for their next game on Thursday night. Pittsburgh has a matchup with the Tennessee Titans, and it looks like he’ll be ready to rock.
“It’s frustrating, it’s part of the game though. I’ve been doing it for a little bit. It is what it is. You’ve just got to be available, and get ready to go on Thursday night,” Pickett said, via Brooke Pryor. “I’m playing, for sure.”
Moreover, Pickett was 10-16 for 73 yards and had a 10-yard rush before he had to exit the contest against the Jaguars. Him returning to the lineup would be tremendous news for the Steelers.
In his stead, Mitchell Trubisky took over and went 15-27 for 138 yards, a touchdown, and a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions in the 10-point loss to Jacksonville.
In his second season in the NFL, Pickett has passed for 1,330 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions on 61% completion. That production helped Pittsburgh to their 4-2 record before their loss in Week 8 to the Jaguars.
If Pickett were to miss the next game against the Titans, Trubisky would likely be in the early lead to make his first start since Week 15 against Carolina last December. If not, Mason Rudolph could end up active and see his first action since the end of the 2021 season. But it looks like that won’t be the case.
At the moment, Pittsburgh is a slight home favorite in the AFC clash against Tennessee on Thursday night, as Pickett is readying to play.
Diontae Johnson calls out refs after Steelers’ loss to the Jaguars
Continuing, Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson didn’t bite his tongue during his postgame interview on Sunday.
After the Pittsburgh Steelers fell 20-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Johnson furiously ranted about the referees.
“They cost us the game,” Johnson said. “They wanted them to win. Everything was in their favor. They were getting every little call. But it is what it is.”
The referees had multiple questionable calls in the game, including a missed pass interference and an arguable roughing the passer penalty.
Johnson believed the referees took a victory from under the Steelers’ feet.
“They must have got paid good today, or something, but that field goal, that hurt us. Coming into the half, we needed that,” Johnson said. “That field goal hurt us. They was calling some stupid stuff. They should get fined for calling that, for making worse, terrible calls, stuff like that. That’s how pissed I am.”
On3’s Sam Gillenwater contributed to this article.