Getty Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is expected to miss significant time because of ankle surgery.
Things went from bad to worse for the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 3. Not only did they fall to the Arizona Cardinals in embarrassing fashion, 24-10, but quarterback Kenny Pickett left with an ankle injury.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reported that Pickett will need surgery to repair the ankle. In the worst case scenario, Pickett will miss Pittsburgh’s next four games.
“UPDATE: Kenny Pickett will have a surgical procedure Monday on his injured ankle and expected to be out 2-4 weeks, per sources,” tweeted Dulac.
Pickett entered Week 13 on the injury report because of an ankle issue. Then while scrambling on third-and-goal with a little more than 5 minutes to go in the second quarter, Pickett hurt his ankle worse.
He left the game and didn’t return. In the second half, the CBS broadcast caught Pickett on the sideline in a walking boot.
Mitch Trubisky replaced Pickett behind center.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Could Miss Significant Portion of Rest of Regular Season
If there’s any good news, Pickett is expected back for the Baltimore Ravens Week 18 matchup. But with the Cardinals loss, Baltimore may have the AFC North division wrapped up by Week 18.
For the other more winnable games prior to Week 18, the Steelers may have to count entirely on their quarterback depth.
From Weeks 14-16, the Steelers could face three backup quarterbacks. But their advantage behind center is now gone with Pickett potentially sidelined for all three games.
Pickett’s injury is poor timing for the Steelers not just because of the upcoming stretch run. The second-year quarterback played arguably his best game of his young NFL career on November 26. He now won’t have a chance to build off that performance.
The Steelers also won’t get to see if Pickett can grow the rest of the season under new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner and play caller Mike Sullivan.
If things completely fall apart of Pittsburgh, the team could still have a draft pick in the top half of the first round. The organization could then be faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to select a new quarterback in the first round.
If Pickett doesn’t return before Week 18, the Steelers will have to make that choice after having only seen Pickett play one or two full games without fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
Pickett went 7-5 last season and is now 7-5 as a starter in 2023. He has posted 2,117 passing yards, 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 12 games this season.
He’s recorded 3 game-winning drives in 2023. For that, NFL pundits have applauded Pickett for his leadership.
But he’s also been criticized for his durability. Pickett has left a game with an injury three separate times this season.
Steelers to Turn to Mitch Trubisky With Season on the Line
Rumors swirled during the offseason that the Steelers could cut Trubisky to save salary cap space. Instead, the team signed him to a contract extension.
It’s now time for Trubisky to earn his keep.
He will likely start in Week 14 against the New England Patriots. Even without Pickett and potentially several other key players, the Steelers cannot afford to lose back-to-back home games to a pair of previously 2-win teams.
The Patriots have held their last three opponents to 10 points or fewer. That could mean a long day for Trubisky. However, the Patriots lost all three of those contests.
New England has dropped eight of its last nine games, including five in a row. They are 1-4 on the road this season.
For those reasons, Week 14 is a matchup the Steelers should and need to win, which places a lot of pressure on Trubisky.
Although he never proved his worth as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Trubisky is 31-24 as an NFL starter. His last start came in Week 15 last year when he played in place of an injured Pickett against the Carolina Panthers.
Trubisky led the Steelers to a 24-16 victory by going 17-for-22 with 179 yards and a rushing score.
The Steelers will also have veteran Mason Rudolph available to play behind center. Rudolph is 5-4-1 as an NFL starter. He last played in an NFL game during the 2021 season.