Steelers' Pickett has ankle surgery, reportedly out 2-4 weeks
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett underwent surgery Monday after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 13, head coach Mike Tomlin announced, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.
The signal-caller will miss two-to-four weeks, sources told Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Tomlin confirmed Pickett will be out for Thursday's game against the New England Patriots. The coach added there's no concern that the injury will end the quarterback's season.
Pickett suffered the ailment on a red-zone run in the second quarter of Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Mitchell Trubisky replaced the 25-year-old, who entered the contest with an ankle ailment but practiced fully all week.
Pickett returned to the sideline wearing a walking boot for the start of the second half.
Kenny Pickett is in a walking boot on the Steelers bench. pic.twitter.com/YKgL6nT6lH
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 3, 2023
He wasn't the only injury the Steelers dealt with Sunday. Star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick broke his left hand, though he put on a cast at halftime and finished the game, head coach Mike Tomlin said postgame, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.
Pickett completed 7 of 10 passes for 70 yards before exiting.
Trubisky completed 11 of his 17 pass attempts for 117 yards and one touchdown in relief of Pickett. However, his lone score came late in the fourth quarter with the Steelers down 21 points.
Pickett's struggles from his rookie season have continued into his sophomore year. He has just 2,140 yards and six touchdowns against four interceptions and has thrown only two scores in the last nine games.
The loss drops Pittsburgh to 7-5 on the year. Its next matchup comes against the New England Patriots on Thursday night.