Steelers Get More Bad News About George Pickens' Injury Status Moving Forward

There was not a single fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers that expected anyone other than George Pickens to be the team's leading pass-catcher throughout the 2024 season. A lot has been made about the lack of a true number two opposite of the wide receiver, and that will certainly be put to the test with Pickens expected to miss his second game in a row with a hamstring injury. Pittsburgh will travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles in what is one of the best non-conference matchups of the league's schedule. It won't be easy for the Steelers to come away victorious without Pickens.

The Steelers were able to take care of the Cleveland Browns in Week 14 without Pickens on the field, but each game without the star wideout will prove to be more challenging. Defenses are going to force Pittsburgh to pass the ball while focusing on stopping the run. This will be a big test for all of the pass-catchers that have relied on Pickens to entertain most of the attention from secondaries throughout 2024.

Unfortunately, Pickens isn't just expected to be sidelined for the game in Philadelphia. Each day, some more news has come out regarding his injury, and on Wednesday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was asked about the status for the potential Pro Bowler moving forward. It's more than just the Eagles contest that the coaching staff could have to worry about.

"He is expected to miss more than the Eagles game, but he should return before the end of the season," Dulac wrote.

That is a big problem for the Steelers. A huge obstacle to overcome will be playing three games in 11 days, but it becomes even worse when one realizes that the team's best offensive weapon could be out for a longer period of time. Additionally, Pittsburgh will win the division if it comes up with a victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16; Dulac's understanding, however, is that the wide receiver won't be active.

Both Baltimore and Philadelphia have questionable secondaries and not having Pickens out there will make it that much easier on the two respective units. Dulac is pretty plugged in at the Steelers' facility, which is why his response to a question about the wideout's status is worth noting. It was always possible that Pickens came down with an injury, and unfortunately, Pittsburgh's front office didn't do too much to combat the possibility.

The absence of Pickens will provide a massive opportunity to Mike Williams, who was traded for right before the deadline back in November. He hasn't been used too often since arriving, but fans should be expecting more of the big-bodied receiver. No one individual can replace the production of Pickens, however, making the loss that much more significant.

Pickens has hauled in 55 catches for 850 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. He was on pace for the best season of his career, but that reality has now become unlikely, especially if he will be out at least two more weeks. The Steelers are nearly a lock to make the playoffs, so it's understandable if the training and coaching staffs would rather be careful when it comes to an injury such as the one Pickens is dealing with.

Steelers Must Hope Pickens' Injury Doesn't Cost Organization AFC North Crown

Without Pickens in the lineup to help the offense, the team is 1-0 in 2024. The Browns, however, are an inferior opponent, especially given the slate of the Eagles, Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs that is due up next. 

If Pickens were to miss potentially all of the next three matchups, it could absolutely cause some issues late in close games, which several of the upcoming contests are expected to be. The injury comes at a horrible time, but others must step up in his absence to lock in a home playoff game for the Steel City.

Are you worried that the absence of Pickens will seriously affect the Steelers' offense in the home stretch of the season? Let us know in the comments below!

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