PITTSBURGH — Kenny Pickett has grown from his first NFL season to his second one, coming this fall in 2023.
Of course, there are many ways to grow, but the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has done so in perhaps the most literal definition of the term: He’s bigger.
Pickett checked in for the first day of OTAs on Tuesday at 226 pounds, which is six more than he is listed at on the Steelers roster, and nine more than he weighed in last spring at the 2022 NFL Combine.
According to Pickett, after the end of his rookie season, he was down to 213 pounds, and he wants to enter Year 2 a bigger, more durable player.
“The hits up here are just a little bit different and they’re over a longer period of time,” Pickett said. “Being able to withstand hits, and if need be, deliver some hits if I have to score, or whatever it may be, I just think I kept my speed and added a little bit of weight.”
Pickett suffered two concussions in his rookie season and has said that he’s worked on some neck exercises to try to be better be able to keep his head from hitting the turf when he takes a hit. He also just wants to be better prepared for the grind of the longer season, especially one that he hopes is even longer than it was in 2022.
“Coming from college, it’s only a 12-game season,” Pickett said. “Here, it’s 17, plus the three preseason, and you want to make a long run to February. So, it’s a long season. You take a lot of shots. I just want to have some more protection.”
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