The Pittsburgh Steelers' woes continued as they suffered a humiliating 24-10 defeat at the hands of the lowly Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. This game will surely be etched in the memories of Steelers fans, but not for the reasons they'd like to remember. It was a disappointing affair where their team, playing on home turf, not only failed to put up a respectful fight, but also suffered the loss of their starting quarterback.
Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press
Steelers' Kenny Pickett leaves the Week 13 game due to injury against the Arizona Cardinals.
Pickett's Early Exit
The Steelers' misfortunes began in the first half when starting quarterback Kenny Pickett left the game late in the first half due to an ankle injury. The pivotal moment occurred when Pickett attempted a rush to reach the end zone, but was unsuccessful, resulting in his injury. Although he managed to leave the field on his own, Pickett did not return to the game.
Kenny Pickett had to be helped off the field after suffering an apparent ankle injury.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 3, 2023
Mitch Trubisky is in at QB for the Steelers. pic.twitter.com/V5XH7eDq4w
Pickett's departure was especially disheartening considering his recent standout performance against the Cincinnati Bengals where he completed an impressive 72% of his passes and threw for 278 yards. He had been nursing discomfort in his ankle stemming from the Bengals game, however.
Mitch Trubisky To Lead The Steelers
Diamond Images / Getty Images
Steelers backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky aims to be whatever the team needs him to be in 2023.
In the aftermath of the loss, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin announced during the postgame press conference that Mitch Trubisky would take over as the starting quarterback in Pickett's absence. Tomlin's statement reflected the uncertainty surrounding Pickett's condition.
"We'll roll with Mitch, if [Pickett] can't play. But I don't know where any of that is as I sit here today."
Trubisky, stepping into the spotlight, threw for 117 yards and managed to notch one touchdown. However, it was clear that the Steelers' offense struggled to find its rhythm with the change at quarterback.
Pickett's Injury Timeline
UPDATE: Kenny Pickett will have a surgical procedure Monday on his injured ankle and expected to be out 2-4 weeks, per sources. https://t.co/tx8VAPbFkO
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) December 4, 2023
As the dust settled on the game, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac provided further insight into Pickett's condition. According to Dulac, Pickett is expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time. Additionally, he reported that Pickett would undergo a surgical procedure on his injured ankle the following Monday, with an estimated recovery time of 2-4 weeks.
The loss of Pickett, who had been showing promise in recent outings, is undoubtedly a setback for the Steelers. The team will now have to rely on Trubisky and hope for a swift recovery for their star quarterback.
David J. Phillip / AP Photo
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) is helped off the field after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Houston.
The Steelers find themselves in a challenging situation, with their starting quarterback on the mend and their playoff hopes hanging in the balance. As they navigate the uncertainty surrounding Pickett's return, the team will need to regroup and refocus to salvage the remainder of the season. Whether they can bounce back from this embarrassing loss and keep their playoff aspirations alive remains to be seen. However, the Steelers will have a chance to avenge this loss this Thursday, December 7th against the New England Patriots.
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