Week 8 was not a kind one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only did they lose their game 20-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they also had multiple key players suffer injuries that are putting their status for Week 9 in jeopardy.
The Steelers have a short week as they will be facing off against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football. Star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has already been ruled out for the game because of a hamstring injury suffered against the Jaguars, per head coach Mike Tomlin.
Tomlin also provided an update on starting quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett was injured in the second quarter when he was hit hard by Jacksonville defensive end Adam Gotsis with 17 seconds remaining before halftime. Pickett was driven into the ground and suffered an injury to his ribs.
Despite being listed as probable to return to the game after halftime, Pickett never stepped back on the field. He finished the game completing 10-of-16 passes for 73 yards, adding one rush for 10 yards. According to Tomlin, he will be a game-time decision for the game on Thursday night.
Against the Jaguars, Pickett was replaced by Mitchell Trubisky, who completed 15-of-27 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. He added three rushes for 18 yards. Trubisky would be in line to start should Pickett not be able to play.
In his second season in Pittsburgh, Trubisky played in seven total games, starting five of them, last season. The Steelers were 2-3 in his starts as he completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,252 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions. He ran the ball 19 times for 38 yards and two touchdowns.
Should Trubisky have to start on Thursday, the offensive game plan shouldn’t have to change much. He has a skill set that can replicate what Pickett does on the field, as the entire playbook should be open for the seventh-year veteran.
Alas, unless something drastic changes with the play calling and execution, it is hard to envision Trubisky having much more success than Pickett. Under Matt Canada, the Steelers’ offense has struggled mightily and that continued against a Jaguars team last week that was susceptible to being beaten through the air.
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