Steelers Rule QB Kenny Pickett Out vs Panthers; Jack Questionable
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has been downgraded to out for Sunday’s Week 15 game against the Carolina Panthers, https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1604173527183421440″>the
team announced on Saturday.
Pickett was listed as doubtful by head coach Mike Tomlin on Friday. He remains in the NFL concussion protocol after leaving the team’s Week 14 game against the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter following a hard hit by linebacker Roquan Smith.
It is the second time that Pickett has been in the concussion protocol this season, but it will be the first time he misses a game. Pickett suffered a concussion in the Steelers’ Week 6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and didn’t play in the second half.
But he practiced the following week and returned to the starting lineup. This time, Pickett was a limited participant in practice all three days, while Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph evenly split the first-team reps.
Trubisky will make his first start for the Steelers since he was benched for Pickett in Week 4 against the New York Jets. Rudolph will be active for the first time this season.
Trubisky has dressed as Pickett’s backup since his benching and replaced him after both injuries, but after he threw three interceptions against the Ravens on Sunday, Tomlin opened the door to Rudolph potentially starting this week.
In addition to changing Pickett’s status, the Steelers also changed the status of inside linebacker Myles Jack from doubtful to questionable. Jack was limited in practice on Friday with a groin injury after missing the first two practices of the week. Robert Spillane will start at inside linebacker if Jack can’t play.
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