The Pittsburgh Steelers' first-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was quarterback, Kenny Pickett. The former Pitt Panthers standout after a competitive training camp, earned the backup job behind Mitch Trubisky. It took exactly three and a half games for Pickett to earn the starting job. He played nine quarters as the starter before he endured his first serious injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers entering the concussion protocol after a big hit in the third quarter.
Kenny Pickett and Najee Harris celebrate the game's 1st TD in 1st Quarter Sunday at Acrisure Stadium vs Tampa Bay / Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh has some of the finest neurologists in the world and the Steelers have often been cautious with players who sustain concussions. If the Steelers' doctors clear Pickett they will not think twice about playing the rookie. Jeff Hathhorn attended Steelers practice on Wednesday and shared his observations with 93.7 The Fan Wednesday afternoon on The PM Team w/ Poni & Mueller Show if Pickett looked like he had suffered a concussion.
“Not at all,” Hathhorn started. “You would have no idea that he would have had a concussion. Part of the concussion protocol is that we are not allowed to talk to players until they exit the concussion protocol. But other than that, we wouldn’t have known.”
The NFL has suffered from harsh criticism after Tua Tagovailoa was injured a few weeks ago and was cleared to reenter the same game. Four days later, he suffered a horrific-looking reinjury and the entire sports world came down hard on the Miami Dolphins and the NFL for putting him back on the field. Unlike the Dolphins quarterback, Pickett immediately left the field and doctors did not allow him to come out of the locker room, so it is feasible that he could find himself on the field on Sunday.
“You always want to be cautious with concussions” Hatthorn continued. “When he came off the field there were immediate questions of is that a concussion, is that a lower body injury? Unlike Tua, you knew right away especially on that second one. Today was the first day of practice, it was his first opportunity to get on the field and how he recovers and responds tonight into tomorrow will be big. He’s not out of the woods yet but a really good first day.”
Credit: Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
In the 2022 NFL, there is no such thing as a mild concussion. Players, until the Dolphin fiasco, have routinely cleared concussion protocols in a week’s time. The Steelers have two position players in Levi Wallace and Pat Freiermuth who could not clear concussion protocol last week and like Pickett, they returned to practice for the first time Wednesday. Every player reacts differently, but it is worth watching to see if the NFL will influence a decision about a primetime game’s player availability. The NFL cannot afford to get this wrong.
“He was the first team quarterback,” Hatthorn concluded on Pickett. “As if he had not suffered an injury or there was any concern that hey, we better get this other guy ready. At least after the first day of practice. The Steelers are confident in their doctor’s, there would be scrutiny if he was to get hit and leave the game, but it might be completely unrelated. Just because today was a really good day doesn't mean 100%, he will be out on the field on Sunday.”
Credit: Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Given the way that Trubisky played down the stretch and the current 2-4 record, it seems very unlikely that the Steelers would risk the long-term health of what they feel is a franchise quarterback. If Pickett is cleared by the Steelers' doctors it will only be because they have faith in the diagnosis. The reputation of the neurological community in Pittsburgh is more important than a result of a football game on Sunday night.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Should the Steelers hold Pickett out, even if the doctors clear him for Sunday night to protect the league? Comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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