The Steelers will have a short turnaround this week as they face the New England Patriots on Thursday night. That means Mike Tomlin spoke to the media today instead of Tuesday, and he gave an update on the Steelers’ bumps and bruises.
Unfortunately for starting quarterback Kenny Pickett, the injury was much more than a bump or a bruise. Pickett injured his ankle diving helmet first into a sea of Cardinals defenders late in the second quarter of the Steelers 24-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Tomlin has ruled him out for the upcoming contest.
Pickett underwent surgery Monday morning to speed up the healing process for a high ankle sprain, and is likely to miss the next 2-4 weeks, though Tomlin said he’s not sure about a timetable for his return. With Pickett injured, Mitch Trubisky is expected to start on Thursday against the Patriots.
Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick broke his hand today. He says he thinks he did it while making a tackle, had it casted during the delay.
Says he’ll be good to go for Thursday. pic.twitter.com/eSz5G8NeiQ
— Amanda Godsey (@AmandaFGodsey) December 3, 2023
Unfortunately, Pickett wasn’t the only notable player to suffer a significant injury in Week 13. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, playing in his first game since missing a month with a hamstring injury, broke his hand but returned to play the rest of the game in a cast. When asked about the injury postgame, Fitzpatrick mentioned he plans on suiting up against New England.
Other notable injuries include inside linebacker Elandon Roberts, who suffered a groin injury in the first half and did not return. Tomlin described his status as “definitively questionable.” The Steelers are already thin at linebacker after losing Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander for the season.
Starting left guard Isaac Seumalo is questionable with a shoulder injury, and cornerback James Pierre is also questionable due to a potential reaggravation of a lingering shoulder issue that had him on the injury report last week.
On a positive note, Tomlin said the team has “little concern” regarding defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who has missed each of the last four weeks with an ankle injury. “We will have him on Thursday night in our defensive front,” said the Steelers head coach.
The Steelers will look to bounce back against a 2-10 Patriots team at Acrisure Stadium to open up Week 14 on Thursday Night Football.
Leave a Reply