PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is taking the final steps in his return from high ankle sprain tightrope surgery, as he practiced fully for the first time on Tuesday since early December. While Mike Tomlin said Pickett was cleared for the Seattle game, he had yet to practice fully, but that hurdle is now cleared.
Pickett revealed on Tuesday that he will backup Mason Rudolph this week in his official return to the field.
“They feel good, four weeks out from the surgery, for me to dress and be the two. So I will be the two. I’ll do that and be ready to go for Baltimore,” Pickett said.
Kenny Pickett now seems posted for a return to the football field. He is still listed as the starter on the depth chart, though he will not start as the Steelers ride Rudolph’s hot hand. Pickett’s injury cost him at least three games where he was not cleared, and more than that, the team faltered without him at the helm. Mitch Trubisky led a three-game losing streak that saw the team fall from 7-4 to 7-7, and now they do not control their playoff destiny after those losses.
Other key injuries aside from Pickett include Trenton Thompson, Elandon Roberts, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Thompson was limited on Tuesday while Fitzpatrick and Roberts did not practice.
Fitzpatrick has missed the team’s last two games with a left knee injury he suffered in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 16. He has yet to return to practice with the team, though he did resume running at practice on Friday.
Roberts suffered a left pectoral muscle injury during the team’s Week 16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He also has yet to return to practice in any fashion. Roberts was the third of the team’s starting inside linebacker trio to be lost to injury this season.