Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett Out with Injury

Updated by John Doe on December 5, 2023, 12:25h.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered an ankle injury and will be sidelined for several weeks after undergoing surgery. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky will step in for Pickett during his absence.

The Steelers are in contention for a playoff spot, but recently parted ways with offensive coordinator Matt Canada due to stagnation on the field.

With the game against the New England Patriots coming up on Thursday, the Steelers are -5 favorites against the Patriots, who are struggling with their offense this season.

The Steelers have a 7-5 record against the point spread (ATS), while the Patriots have a dismal 2-10 ATS record.

Pickett Injured, Trubisky Takes Over

Pickett aggravated his ankle injury in the game against the Arizona Cardinals, prompting his surgery. Trubisky took over and finished the game, which the Cardinals won 24-10.

Pickett is undergoing tightrope surgery for his ankle, similar to a previous procedure in 2020. While he has not been placed on the injured reserve (IR) list as of now, he will not play in the upcoming game against the Patriots on a short week.

Trubisky will be the starting quarterback in Pickett’s absence, with the Steelers hoping for a strong performance from the former #2 NFL Draft pick.

Steelers Dealing with Injuries

In addition to Pickett, several teams in the AFC are facing serious quarterback injury issues. The Steelers are currently in second place in the AFC North, with the backup quarterbacks stepping in for each of the other playoff-contending teams in the division.

Steelers’ Playoff Chances Despite Injuries

The Steelers are still in contention for the AFC North title and have a 52% chance of making it to the playoffs, according to “Upshot”. Despite the injury setbacks, the Steelers have +3500 odds to win the AFC Championship and +7500 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII according to DraftKings’ NFL futures board.