Steelers QB Kenny Pickett will miss an "extended period" with his ankle injury, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac. We'll look for a more detailed diagnosis and timetable for Pickett's return, but it sounds like it'll be QB Mitchell Trubisky under center for the Steelers for the foreseeable future. He's completed 63.8% of his passes at 6.7 yards per attempt over the past two seasons in Pittsburgh. Trubisky will be a bottom-barrel QB2 in fantasy football but probably won't be a significant downgrade from Pickett for the offense.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett hurt his ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Cardinals and is questionable to return. We'll update his status when we know more. QB Mitchell Trubisky will replace Pickett.
Update: Pickett has been ruled out. He's on the sidelines with his right foot in a walking boot.
The Steelers have fired OC Matt Canada, who has been running the unit since 2021. In that time, Pittsburgh has ranked 21st, 26th, and 28th (so far this year) in scoring. Each season has found the offense ranking 28th in yards per play. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the team plans to promote RBs coach Eddie Faulkner to OC but hand play-calling duties to QBs coach Mike Sullivan. Faulkner has coached Steelers RBs since 2019 (and previously served in the same role for the team in 2012). His only OC experience to date has been with Ball State in 2009-10. Sullivan has been coaching at the college level or higher for 30 years. He has been in the NFL since 2002, including stints as Buccaneers OC (2012-13) and Giants OC (2016-17). Those offenses finished -- in order -- 13th, 30th, 26th, and 31st in scoring; eighth, 32nd, 24th, and 25th in yards per play. Sullivan didn't get great QB play across those offenses. He started with fourth-season Josh Freeman in Tampa, and then got primarily Mike Glennon the following year. His two seasons at the Giants' offensive helm came in Eli Manning's age-35 and age-36 campaigns. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo says Sullivan has a "strong relationship" with Steelers QB Kenny Pickett, but the new guy probably isn't an upgrade on those previous situations. The switch should be positive for usable skill-position Steelers, though. Canada never won as a play caller and often sported questionable run-pass splits given the output. This year's Steelers also should find upside in a softening schedule. According to FTN's Aaron Schatz, Pittsburgh faced the league's toughest schedule so far this year by total defensive DVOA. Over a full season, the 2023 schedule to date would rank third-toughest of any team since 1981. You can see the negative fantasy impacts of those opponents on our Strength of Schedule pages. The remaining schedule ranks fifth-best for RB scoring and ninth-best for WRs. (Just 17th for TEs, though.) We'll see whether the run-pass splits change. That question plus Pickett's limitations make the WRs tough to get excited about. RB Najee Harris looks interesting, though -- especially because his trade cost has been driven down by meager production and Jaylen Warren's recent numbers.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (rib) is not listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He put in a full practice on Wednesday and is set to start Thursday night's game vs. the Titans. The rib issue still adds some risk to Pickett's fantasy profile -- and he wasn't a very attractive option to begin with
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett told reporters Tuesday that he's "playing for sure" Thursday night against the Titans. We had been expecting that Pickett would sit with the rib injury that knocked him out of the loss to the Jaguars. But you can now find Pickett in the Week 9 QB rankings. We don't see much difference between the QBs in terms of their impact on Steelers WR production against Tennessee.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Steelers are "keeping an open mind" about QB Kenny Pickett potentially rebounding from Sunday's rib injury to play Thursday night against the Titans. There's obviously nothing wrong with the team refusing to rule out its starting QB three days ahead of kickoff. We'd be surprised if Pickett is ready for the game, though. We're expecting Mitchell Trubisky to line up behind center against Tennessee. Of course, this situation doesn't matter a whole lot for fantasy purposes, because neither QB is very good.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport "didn't sense a lot of optimism" about Steelers QB Kenny Pickett's availability for Thursday night's game vs. the Titans. We're still waiting for details on the rib injury Pickett suffered in the Week 8 loss to the Jaguars, but he was always a long shot to be ready on the short turnaround. Look for QB Mitchell Trubisky to start vs. Tennessee. He's completed 63.7% of his passes at 6.6 yards per attempt with five TDs and seven INTs in nine appearances (five starts) for the Steelers since the start of 2022.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett suffered a rib injury in the first half of Sunday's game vs. the Jaguars and has been ruled out. He's been replaced by QB Mitchell Trubisky. We'll update Pickett's status when we know more.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett completed 17 of 25 passes for 230 yards with 0 TDs or INTs in Week 7 vs. the Rams. The second-year starter also punched in a rushing TD in the third quarter of the contest. Despite not registering a passing score, Pickett’s 15.2 fantasy points are his second-highest total this season. He’ll be in the low-end QB2 discussion next week vs. the Jaguars.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth reinjured his hamstring in Thursday's practice, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Freiermuth will miss this weekend's game vs. the Rams and "likely will be sidelined longer," per Pelissero. Freiermuth can be dropped in shallower fantasy leagues. His absence is good news for WRs Diontae Johnson and George Pickens' target shares.
Week 5 turned up a memorable game for Steelers WR George Pickens. He snagged 6 of 10 targets for 130 yards, plus a game-winning deep-ball score. Call it a fortunate outcome for fantasy owners, as Kenny Pickett continued to struggle while playing through a knee injury. Pittsburgh failed to find the end zone before Pickens’ score late in the 4th. Pickens will remain a boom/bust fantasy option following a Week 6 bye. Diontae Johnson (IR, hamstring) should return for that one.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett "won’t have his full mobility" as he plays through a bone bruise to his knee vs. the Ravens today, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. If you needed a reason to avoid Pickett in Week 5 fantasy lineups, there it is.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (knee) is not listed on the final Week 5 injury report. He put in full practices on Thursday and Friday, so it’s possible that the knee isn’t an issue this weekend. Still, Pickett is a weak fantasy play vs. the Ravens.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (knee) was upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice. It's confirmation that he'll be able to play vs. the Ravens this weekend. Pickett sits at the very bottom of our Week 5 QB Rankings.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (knee) told reporters Wednesday that he'll be "ready to go" for Sunday's game vs. the Ravens. We'll track his status throughout the rest of the week after he suffered a reported bone bruise in last week's loss to the Texans. Pickett will be a bottom-barrel QB2 if he suits up this weekend.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said QB Kenny Pickett has been diagnosed with a bone bruise on his knee. He'll participate to some extent in Wednesday's practice, and the team will evaluate him from there. "The more comfortable and functional he is, the more work he'll get," Tomlin said. It seems like Pickett has a real chance to play vs. the Ravens this weekend. We'll keep you updated on his progress.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Steelers QB Kenny Pickett "is not expected to miss much if any time" with the knee injury that knocked him out of Sunday's game. Pickett could "try to push" to play this Sunday against Baltimore. A Week 6 bye after that could factor into the decision, though. We'll watch reports this week to see if Pickett or Mitchell Trubisky will start the divisional game.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett "will miss some time" with his knee injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. How much time will depend on the results of Monday's MRI. The Steelers don't believe Pickett's ACL is damaged, but there's concern about the MCL and meniscus, Rapoport says. "The belief is that this is not a season-ending situation." We should have a more concrete timeline for Pickett's return by the end of Monday. QB Mitchell Trubisky will step in as Pittsburgh's starter for however long Pickett is out. Trubisky completed 65.0% of his passes at 7.0 yards per attempt across four starts and seven total appearances for the Steelers last year.
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