Tomlin: Kenny Pickett Day-to-Day, Will Play if Cleared

PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin is taking it “day by day” with Kenny Pickett, his practice participation and availability for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, as he works through the NFL concussion protocol.

Tomlin confirmed if Pickett is cleared, he will start on Sunday, leaning on the experience of the team’s medical experts.

“Whatever they decide is what we do,” Tomlin said. “And there’s really not a lot of discussion there.”

Pickett suffered his second concussion of the year in Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but Tomlin pushed back against the notion that the Steelers should exercise any additional caution with their first-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft.

“Not from me, because I’m not a medical expert,” Tomlin said. “I gained my position, my confidence, my levels of concern, any of the things that you would ask along those lines from the medical experts. I’m really comfortable in that. … I’ve got nothing but great admiration and respect for our medical experts. People come from all over the world to visit with our guys and from other sports, as well. So, I’ll let them do what it is that they do.”

With the Tua Tagovailoa concussion situation earlier this year and Pickett showing signs of stumbling, it was surprising to some that Pickett was allowed back in the game following the initial evaluation. But Tomlin is not concerned with the execution of the protocol.

“I know anytime there’s an injury (the media) love to chew that up over the course of the week,” Tomlin said. “But, as I mentioned, when someone is in the protocol, they’re evaluated by the experts. They’re either cleared to participate or not. Even when they are, which he was, they watch him continually. As they continued to watch him, they decided to pull him, and that’s the reality of it. So enjoy, have at it.”

Pickett was able to practice while in the concussion protocol following his first concussion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October, but Tomlin does not know yet if that will be allowed this time around. Pickett is talking with doctors on Tuesday.

Mitch Trubisky replaced Pickett on Sunday, throwing three interceptions in the loss to Baltimore. Tomlin said it’s unclear if he will do so again this week and that Mason Rudolph will also practice if Pickett cannot.

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Nick Farabaugh provided reporting from Pittsburgh.