Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that quarterback Kenny Pickett underwent surgery for a high ankle sprain to “accelerate the healing process” to his right ankle. Pickett will be out for Thursday’s game against the New England Patriots.
Pickett injured his ankle with just over five minutes left in the second quarter, when he pulled down to the ground while running under pressure. He had reportedly been dealing with a right ankle issue coming into Week 13, and while he walked off the field, he was noticeably in pain. Backup QB Mitch Trubisky replaced Pickett and stayed in for the rest of the game. with the Steelers losing 24-10.
Tomlin declined to give a specific timetable for the quarterback’s return, but said that is it not expected to be season-ending: “They’ll always come out of the O.R. with some information in that regard, but I’m just not privy to it as I sit here today. That’s why I framed it the way that I framed it. Rest assured, he won’t be available this week.” Quarterback Mitch Trubisky took over for Pickett in Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals and will start against the Patriots, with Mason Rudolph serving as back-up.
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