Brooke Pryor | ESPN3 de oct, 2023, 19:11 ETLectura: 4 min.
Kenny Pickett will practice with a bone bruise in his knee on Wednesday; If he’s not ready for Sunday, Mitch Trubisky will be the starting quarterback against the Ravens.
PITTSBURGH — The quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kenny Picketthas a bone bruise on his left knee and will practice to some extent Wednesday, coach Mike Tomlin said.
Tomlin said Pickett’s availability for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens will be determined as the week progresses. The quarterback exited Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the third quarter after being sacked on fourth-and-1.
Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Chris Unger/Getty Images
“The more functional and comfortable he is, the more work he’s going to have, and then as we move toward the game, the quality of his work will be a determining factor in his availability,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “A quarterback is no different than any other position… They need a well-rounded perspective on preparation. He knows and understands that he’s prepared to practice tomorrow.”
If Pickett is not ready, quarterback Mitch Trubisky will start in his place.
After spending the first 20 minutes discussing the team’s need to be more physical, Tomlin also acknowledged Tuesday the coaching shortcomings that contributed to the 24-point loss at Houston and the team’s 2-2 start.
“It’s not good enough,” Tomlin said of his assessment of the training. “…Forget about winning or losing. Whenever we don’t play well as a coach, man, you start there.”
But of the changes being made, none will directly affect the game-day responsibilities of the coaching staff, including much-maligned offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
Tomlin said: “Not at this time.”
For Pickett, Tomlin said, in addition to monitoring his health, the main concern is making “fluid decisions.”
“I think as plays get longer, particularly early in games, the potential for offensive negativity and defensive positivity increases,” Tomlin said. “And so I think a component of us having smoother starts is smoother decision-making and things happening at a faster pace. That’s going to be a focus for him, and for us, because it’s not just him.”
Pickett is at the top of a long injury list for the Steelers, who are already without receiver Diontae Johnson (hamstring) and defensive lineman Cam Heyward (groin), with both players on injured reserve.
The Steelers will also be without left tackle Dan Moore Jr. (knee sprain), clearing the way for rookie first-round pick Broderick Jones to make his first NFL start.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) is highly questionable, Tomlin said, while defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal is in concussion protocol. Punter Pressley Harvin (hamstring) and guard James Daniels (groin) missed Sunday’s game and will continue working toward their return.
Although the Steelers are banged up, Tomlin emphasized the need to increase the physicality level in the team’s preparation during the week.
“Houston, we thought, was more physical than us and played harder than us and that’s something that has to change immediately,” Tomlin said. “…We have to look at what we’re doing in an effort to make sure that doesn’t happen again. And specifically in terms of the preparation structure, it makes us look at our practice attire over the last few weeks due to various circumstances. “
Part of that, Tomlin said, will be practicing with pads on Wednesday, something the team hasn’t done because of the short weeks and trips to the West Coast.
Tomlin said he shared a similar message with the team on the bench during the game and in the locker room after the loss. And, Tomlin said, that’s why Trubisky said after the game that the offense needed to play with “more heart.”
“He probably meant his heart, but it was probably about playing hard, which is what I talked to the team about before opening the locker room to the media,” Tomlin said. “It was probably an interpretation of that discussion. They played harder than we did. We have to take our hats off to them for that, but we have to rectify that, and the quickest way to rectify it is to recognize it sooner rather than later.”
2023-10-03 23:11:00
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