PITTSBURGH — Kenny Pickett got it done with his legs on Sunday, rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers’ 20-10 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Pickett’s 1-yard touchdown to put the Steelers up two scores was a designed run, but most of the rest of Pickett’s rushing contributions were of the ad-hoc variety.
After getting sacked six times in the Steelers’ Week 8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Pickett was a bit more judicious in deciding when to take off on Sunday.
“It’s just something that being an athlete growing up, you kind of get a good feel for it,” Pickett said. “I did it at the college level. I feel like I can extend plays at this level long enough to free guys up downfield and take off and get some yardage. It’s just something to be smart about. Get down when I can get down.”
But even despite running more often, the pass rush still got to Pickett six times yet again, including one hit in the second half that injured Pickett’s ankle. That’s the same ankle that Pickett had surgery on in 2020 in his senior year at Pitt. He finished that game before needing surgery and missing multiple weeks afterward. But it doesn’t seem like the ankle injury is that severe this time around.
Pickett was noticeably limping before and after the went to the medical tent on the Pittsburgh sideline for treatment, but minimized the injury in speaking with reporters after the game.
“It feels good,” Pickett said. “I’ll ice it. … I knew I was going to stay in.”
After leaving his first winning start midway through with a concussion, it was going to take a lot more than some mild ankle discomfort to keep Pickett from finishing out the win.
“It feels great to be up here after a win,” Pickett said.