This has been a typical rally year for the Steelers. Anytime things look less than ideal in a season for Pittsburgh, the team tends to pick things up and lead head coach Mike Tomlin to yet another winning season. They have done so this year as a bend-but-don’t-break defense has buoyed a struggling offense to a 7-5 record. That task will likely be getting a bit more difficult with the injury news concerning starting quarterback Kenny Pickett.
According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Pickett sustained a right ankle injury while trying to push for the endzone today and was forced to sit out the remainder of the game. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the injury is “not good” and that Pickett “will be out for an extended period.”
Pickett was replaced in today’s loss by backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Trubisky was able to score a touchdown in relief of Pickett but was unable to lead the team to victory after inheriting a tie game on the one-yard line. Tomlin made it clear that if Pickett is unable to go, which if Dulac is correct sounds like it will be the case, Trubisky will serve as the team’s starter.
With the Steelers facing a short week before hosting the Patriots, Pickett likely won’t have time to make a quick comeback, especially if the injury is “not good.” Expect Trubisky to lead the Pittsburgh offense this Thursday night.
Here are a few other injury updates from around the AFC, starting with another note from the Steel City:
- Steelers starting safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who returned to the field today for the first time since October, was forced to leave the game for a period with a broken left hand, per Pryor. The break reportedly kept him from being able to grab the football, but he was able to cast and wrap the hand during the game’s two weather delays and finish the game with the injury. If the team feels it’s safe, Fitzpatrick may not need to miss any additional time as he can simply play with the cast, as he did today.
- Speaking of the Thursday night turnaround, the Patriots are in danger of having to face the Steelers without starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson reportedly sprained his ankle today, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and will undergo an MRI in order to determine how long he may be sidelined. Even if it’s a fairly minor sprain, the short week looms large for his availability. Backup rusher Ezekiel Elliott could find himself in a bigger role or even starting in Pittsburgh this coming week.
- The Titans saw two players suffer scary knee injuries in today’s loss to the Colts. The two players who went down were star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and backup tight end Josh Whyle. While the injuries were enough to sideline each player for a bit, beat writer Paul Kuharsky confirms that neither injury is season-ending.
Steelers only saving grace is Browns having terrible luck, bad loss. Think Bills take one of their spots.
Still watching too much ESPN?
I don’t watch stupid talking head shows.
Buffalo ain’t going anywhere with its stretch run — Kansas City away followed by Dallas at home is a tall order. And the Bills can’t win without their mafia present.
The worst Steelers team in years. Untalented. Undisciplined. Poorly coached
Blow it all up and start over. What a mess
& just imagine how awful they could be without those untalented, undisciplined players & coaches.
Titans punter looked like he got smoked to
Addition by subtraction for the Steelers
Huh?
Probably talking about the loss of Pickett.
That doesn’t make the comment any more sensible
Pickett sucks lol it’s that simple. He’s left the field hurt this year more times than he’s thrown TD passes. It’s embarrassing to watch each week. Even more embarrassing to see people make excuses to defend this piss poor QB and his lack of skill.
In other words, although he feels badly Pickett got hurt, they’re better without him. Jeez. Could it be any more clear?
I applauded the drafting of Pickett but he doesn’t have it. He stinks. Period.
But he’s not alone. The O-line is garbage. Their top two wideouts are me-first, diva-types and while Pats fans bemoan their coach having been passed by, Tomlin not only fails to prepare this team but has amassed a group of guys who look like they’d rather be elsewhere
In Pittsburgh, yeah, we’ve been spoiled. But let’s tell it like it is. This team is horrible and that record is as much a joke as was their 11-0 start a few years ago
I agree with all of those things, but all of the other things would be somewhat passable if the QB wasn’t constantly playing like a chicken with no head. He has no clue what he’s doing out there and plays scared 100% of the time.
There are a couple of teams as bad as the Steelers in this league. Maybe the Bears, for one. Not too many others
Tomlin seems to have mesmerized national media into continually continually proclaiming what a great coach he is. Watch the games. The lack of preparation, planning and discipline (watch Pickens and Johnson—mini Antonio Browns) is just astounding. And like Pickett, I supported Tomlin for years
As for Pickett, I honestly can’t think of a worse starting QB in the NFL. It’s like putting a middle school kid in the cockpit of a 747 and telling him to fly the plane
Canada was not a real NFL OC, but let’s face it, he was a scapegoat for this stinkeroo of an offense and this overmatched QB
Worse part is that Trubisky and Rudolph are just as bad and behind this O-line nothings going to change.
Tomlin is a stubborn egotist. He’ll stick with this kid until his contract is up
Exactly we have 2 more years of this because Tomlin never lets his draft picks walk before their contract is up and he always sticks with players too long its a shame.
How exactly is Pickett getting hurt for the betterment of the franchise in either the present OR future?
There is certainly a debate to be had about whether Pickett should continue to be entrusted with the offense. I’m not concerned with that, especially since you guys have clearly already made up your minds on that front.
However, this team is currently in wild card contention and has a feasible path to the postseason. As one of you literally acknowledged, Trubisky is in no way an improvement over Pickett, as was evident during yesterday’s game. Thus, his injury in no way “helps” the team in that regard.
As for the future, Trubisky is clearly not part of that. Pickett at least has a chance (however minimal you think that may be) to be the signal caller next season, so it would be in Pittsburgh’s best interests to see if he functions better without Canada. From a purely evaluative standpoint, it does not benefit to have Pickett miss time in lieu of known quantities Rudolph and Trubisky.
You make it sound like someone *wanted* Pickett to get hurt. You’re not familiar with modern conversation phrases are you?
Trubisky is a clipboard holder. Pickett just stinks. Period
No arm. No pocket presence. Nervous feet
And the wild card comment is hilarious. As Rex Ryan said this morn, this team is a fraud. The worst team I’ve seen here in decades.
Little talent. Little professionalism.
Just what is “the standard” again?
He’s a bad QB. He’s unable to do his job. If that were you or I, we’d be fired last year. Wild card contention does NOTHING for the future of this team. Woooo another Tomlin not losing season! Yay!!!…. Just to get absolute trampled by KC, Jax, or Mia. Trubisky might not be better than Pickett, but he has at least thrown a TD in the past 5 weeks…. Just start losing and jump up the draft board. It’s better for the organization.
Pickett will be the signal caller, because Tomlin doesn’t own he Bahlsack to admit he was wrong. He almost never gives up on his 1st round picks before the option year comes up, and he certainly won’t with this one.
Literally all I was pointing out is that the phrase “addition by subtraction” didn’t make sense in this context. Most teams don’t like having their starting quarterback get hurt, especially when they still have a chance to make the postseason and said quarterback is still developing.
I didn’t realize this would devolve into a series of rants about how the world is ending and the Steelers will never win again
It makes perfect sense though. The organization is in much better place if we lose out and get a higher draft selection, therefore switching one awful QB for an even worse one is addition by subtraction.
The world isn’t ending because well paid athletes lose, Wagner. I truly could not care less
I saw greatness in Pittsburgh Steelers football in the 70’s. In the Polamalu era
This ain’t it, by far
My Comment is absolutely right….based on the performance expectations most coaches have, Tomlin would be told to move on anywhere else.
His message is stale. His ability to discipline compromised
But hey, I sure enjoyed prima Donna Dionte Johnson’s end zone dance yesterday …14 points down and 4 minutes left
Classy trash
I was a Tomlin supporter for years but I thought he’d begun to show signs of overstaying his welcome at the end of the AB era. His best assistants were leaving, the planning and prep were gone and he couldn’t control his stars. AB, Bell, Martavis, and recently, Claypool. Now these clowns
Hard to root for this team. Not only are they a bad team but like you said, a lot of trash
They better not lose to my Patriots! Keep improving our draft picks.