The Athletic has live coverage of Ravens vs. Steelers in NFL Week 5 action
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett said Wednesday, “By Sunday, I’ll feel a lot better and be good to go.” Here’s what you need to know:
- Pickett exited the Steelers’ Week 4 loss to the Houston Texans after being sacked and was later diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee.
- The 25-year-old wore a knee brace in Wednesday’s practice but still participated in drills.
- Pickett has thrown for 803 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions through Pittsburgh’s first four games.
- The Steelers’ official injury report for Week 5 listed Pickett as limited.
Kenny Pickett says “I’ll be ready to go by Sunday.” https://t.co/FCRVpQGVNo pic.twitter.com/dpbh6CW8fm
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) October 4, 2023
What Pickett is saying about the injury
Pickett said that initially, he was concerned about the severity of the injury based on the feedback he was getting from the medical staff. But he got “lucky” the injury is not more significant. Coach Mike Tomlin called it a “bone bruise” during his Tuesday news conference.
“It feels good,” Pickett said. “I’m confident with the plan that we have.” — Mike DeFabo, Pittsburgh Steelers writer
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What to expect Sunday
Pickett wore a bulky brace on his left knee during practice. For a quarterback who likes to use his mobility, the extra gear may be a factor on game day. Pickett said he’ll have to wait to see how the week progresses before determining if he’ll need to wear the brace Sunday.
Whether Pickett is wearing extra protective gear or not, he and the offense are looking for improvements. The start of Pickett’s second season has been slow and somewhat disappointing.
Pickett ranks 29th in completion percentage (60.6) and 29th in passer rating (76.3). Only five NFL quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions than Pickett’s four.
Overall, the Steelers offense is at or near the bottom of the league in many statistical categories, including 30th in points scored (12.0 points per game), 29th in yards per game (263) and last in first downs per game (13.3). — DeFabo
What if Pickett can’t go?
While Pickett expects to be ready to go by Sunday, Pittsburgh is preparing just in case he can’t. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky said he took more first-team reps during Wednesday’s practice than he would during a normal week. The way the Steelers divide the reps Thursday and Friday will be another indication of how Pickett is progressing.
“I took what I needed to take in terms of what they were telling me, the doctors and trainers that we have here,” Pickett said. “As we go through the week, it will probably go based on what they say.” — DeFabo
Required reading
- Kenny Pickett’s injury leaves floundering Steelers offense with more questions to answer
- Steelers coach Mike Tomlin promises change — here are 5 areas to consider
- Steelers winners (yes, there were some) and losers at quarter mark of season
(Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)