Steelers QB Kenny Pickett says he’s playing ‘for sure’ against Titans despite rib injury
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) scrambles on a run against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, right, doubles over as he leaves the field after getting shaken up against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Pittsburgh. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) prepares to come into the game.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) fires a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, center, is helped after getting shaken up against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett plans to play against Tennessee on Thursday night despite a rib injury that forced him to sit out the second half of a loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.
Pickett said he 无毛视频渇or sure无毛视频� will be on the field when Pittsburgh (4-3) hosts the Titans (3-4). The second-year starter watched the final two quarters against the Jaguars from afar after getting drilled by Jacksonville defensive end Adam Gotsis.
Gotsis hit Pickett in the left side of the chest and then drove him into the ground in the waning moments of the first half. Pickett sat on the soggy Acrisure Stadium turf for several minutes before slowly walking off. He came out to warm up for the second half, but then went back to the training room while backup Mitch Trubisky took over.
无毛视频�(I was) doing what I could to try and go back out there,无毛视频� Pickett said. 无毛视频淚 felt like I couldn无毛视频檛 throw it the way I needed to throw it to win so just listened to what the doctors said.无毛视频�
Asked if the play deserved a flag for unnecessary roughness, Pickett shrugged.
无毛视频淵ou know, I无毛视频檝e had a couple where I feel like I was going to get some (calls) but I haven无毛视频檛 gotten them yet,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚t is what it is, I无毛视频檝e just got to keep playing.无毛视频�
The biggest issue for Pickett will be pain management, particularly on a short week. He did some 无毛视频渓ight无毛视频� throwing on Tuesday and could be more involved in Wednesday无毛视频檚 walkthrough. The only sure way for the ribs to heal is to rest, not an option with Pittsburgh playing twice in five days.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e got to do what we无毛视频檝e got to do to play,无毛视频� Pickett said.
Pittsburgh无毛视频檚 offense has spent most of the first two months of the season essentially running in place. The Steelers are near the bottom of the league in every major statistical category, including points (29th) and yards (30th).
While offensive coordinator Matt Canada has come under heavy criticism, Pickett believes the issue isn无毛视频檛 the game plan, but the inability to execute with any sort of consistency.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson dropped a pass down the middle of the field on the first play against Jacksonville and later saw a potential touchdown slip away when Pickett无毛视频檚 pass to the end zone went behind him because of what Pickett described as a 无毛视频渕iscommunication.无毛视频�
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 not about scripting, it无毛视频檚 not about anything,无毛视频� Pickett said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 about us playing and being better than what we无毛视频檙e doing right now. It无毛视频檚 not where it needs to be and it has to get better.无毛视频�
The Steelers used a run-heavy approach over the second half of last season to take some of the pressure off Pickett during his rookie season. Asked if his injury makes it even more important for Pittsburgh to be able to run the ball effectively, Pickett shook his head.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 not going to use (the ribs) as a crutch,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e got to play well.无毛视频�
Pickett does plan to use a flak jacket, something he无毛视频檚 used regularly throughout his career. He called the timing of the injury 无毛视频� which came with Pittsburgh finally starting to gain some momentum 无毛视频� 无毛视频渇rustrating无毛视频� but part of the game.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e been doing it for a little bit, it is what it is,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檝e just got to be available and get ready to go on Thursday night.无毛视频�
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