Steelers lose QB Kenny Pickett to rib injury late in first half vs. Jaguars, replaced by Trubisky
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett’s bumpy second season took another abrupt turn on Sunday when he exited a 20-10 loss to Jacksonville with a rib injury.
The Steelers were driving late in the first half when Pickett was hit by Jacksonville defensive end Adam Gotsis near midfield after releasing an incomplete pass. Pickett grabbed his chest as he made his way off the field.
Mitch Trubisky played the final offensive snap of the first half for Pittsburgh. Pickett came out to warm up at the start of the second half but remained on the sideline while Trubisky finished the game.
This is the second time Trubisky has come in for Pickett this season. Trubisky played in the second half of a 30-6 loss to Houston in Week 4 after Pickett left with a bone bruise in his knee. Pickett recovered in time to start the following week against Baltimore.
Pickett completed 10 of 16 passes for 73 yards against Jacksonville as Pittsburgh’s offense sputtered yet again. The Steelers needed four possessions to generate a single first down, though a handful of drops — most notably by wide receiver Diontae Johnson on the first snap of the game on a play deep down the middle of the field — didn’t help.
“It was (on the) tip of my fingers, my right hand,” Johnson said. “It was one of those situations where I have to keep running and just make the catch. There’s no excuses.”
Johnson and Pickett also failed to connect on a touchdown pass in the second quarter when Pickett threw slightly behind an open Johnson and the wide receiver slipped on the soggy Acrisure Stadium turf while trying to adjust.
