Steelers Injury Updates Steelers News
Steelers WR George Pickens Pushing for Christmas Day Return: ‘I Want to Be Back Out There’
PITTSBURGH — Star wide receiver George Pickens has not yet been medically cleared to return to action, but says he felt good after participating in Monday’s walkthrough-speed Pittsburgh Steelers practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, and hopes to play Wednesday when the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Steelers.
Pickens suffered the injury on Dec. 5, while doing some work after practice. The Steelers initially thought the injury was minor, but an MRI revealed more significant damage, causing Pickens to miss the team’s last three games.
It’s usually hard for players to return to action on a short week, and this will be one of the shortest ever for their Steelers, with their 1 p.m. Wednesday game following a 4:30 p.m. start on Sunday.
Pickens was running by himself in practice last week, and on Monday, he was out there with the rest of the wide receivers in drills.
“I feel good,” he said, but cautioned not to read too much into the practice participation. “We were just walking. It’s not like it was fully go.”
As to his status for Wednesday’s game, Pickens said he still doesn’t know if he’ll be cleared medically in time to play.
“I hope so. It depends on how I feel,” he said. “I feel good [now], but I don’t make the decision. It is the coaches and the doctors, so just whatever they tell me to do. … Whenever you guys find out is when I’ll find out.”
The Steelers have gone 1-2 with Pickens out of the lineup, beating the Cleveland Browns, but struggling against the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. Pickens said it wasn’t hard to be limited to “cheering guys on,” but said he wants to be out there with the team.
“I want to be out there with the guys,” he said. “They did their best and tried hard, tried to get a dub, get a victory.”
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was asked earlier on Monday about the possibility of getting Pickens back and the impact that would have on his offense.
“He’s been our leading wide out; been one the better wide outs around the league the whole season,” Smith said. “That certainly helps. You want your best guys out there if they’re available, and so if he can go, it’d be nice to have him back.”
