PITTSBURGH – Kenny Pickett isn’t concerned he’s prone to concussion after suffering a second within months, although the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback is taking steps to hopefully avoid more of the same in the future.
The 20th overall pick in last spring’s draft will wear a larger helmet on Saturday night when the Steelers (6-8) play Las Vegas (6-8). The new helmet offers a little more protection for the back of Pickett’s head. Both concussions Pickett has suffered this season – against Tampa Bay on October 16 and against Baltimore on December 11 – there were games where the back of his helmet smacked the turf of Acrisure Stadium.
“Beating my head on the floor was the problem,” Pickett said Thursday. “(The new helmet) has (more protection) on the back, which I think will help.”
Pickett sat out the win over Carolina last week after being knocked down by Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith and developing concussion-like symptoms beginning of the first quarter what became a 16-14 Ravens win.
Medical staff initially allowed Pickett to return to the game, but he reported problems himself after returning for a series and was put on record.
“Once I got back out there and started walking (and) vision came into play more and I’m moving and things are going fast, the symptoms kicked in and I had to go in,” Pickett said.
Pickett called the symptoms more severe this time than those he experienced after being removed in a similar hit against Tampa Bay in October. He returned to start the next week.
That wasn’t an option after the Baltimore game as symptoms persisted. The Steelers put him inactive and started Mitch Trubisky in his place.
Pickett said the decision was the right choice, but added that things “have sorted themselves out now and I’m fine to go”.
Sitting gave Pickett the ability to wear the headset and listen while the coaches ran through calls as the game progressed.
“It was a unique experience,” Pickett said. “But I definitely prefer being on the field.”
The former Pitt star has made steady progress in the second half of the season. He has completed 129 straight pass attempts without an interception, having thrown eight in his first five games.
“I feel like I’ve had time after bye week to study what I’m doing and what I need to do better and where we stand as an insult,” Pickett said. “Ever since[bye week]I’ve felt like it’s getting slower every week.”
It helped that the Steelers seem to have found an offensive identity no matter who is behind the center. Pittsburgh has rushed for more than 100 yards in six of their last seven games, a streak where the Steelers are 4-3. The improved play up front has taken some of the pressure off Pickett to take chances on the field, one of the reasons he’s stopped turning the ball.
Passing numbers is treacherous at best on Christmas Eve as the season temperature is expected to be in the single digits and winds in excess of 30mph are expected at Acrisure Stadium.
Pickett joked he’ll be wearing heavier thermal performance gear and maybe borrowing a ski mask from rookie wide receiver George Pickens, who has been styling them regardless of the weather for weeks.
Either way, the Steelers will need to hold onto each of their last three games and get plenty of help if they’re to keep even the faintest of playoff hopes alive.
“I know there’s a lot that has to happen that’s out of our control, but we can’t control that,” Picket said. “We want to finish strong and finish the race with three wins.”
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