PITTSBURGH — In a stunning turn of events, Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a rib injury during Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, forcing him to exit the first half. Pickett has been ruled out for the remainder of the game, leaving the Steelers in a tough spot. Stepping in for Pickett was backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who finished the first half with Pittsburgh trailing Jacksonville 9-3.
The injury occurred when Pickett was hit by Jaguars defensive lineman Adam Gotsis on a first-down pass attempt with just 17 seconds left on the clock until halftime. Pickett remained on the ground for a few moments before eventually leaving the field under his own power. The severity of his injury is yet to be determined.
Despite a slow start, Pickett managed to accumulate 73 passing yards on 10 of 16 completions before being sidelined. He played a crucial role in Pittsburgh’s 12-play, 93-yard scoring drive, which narrowed their deficit to just three points towards the end of the first half.
Luckily, the Steelers have a reliable backup in Trubisky, a former Pro Bowler who has started in 57 games throughout his seven-year NFL career. Trubisky had a record of 2-3 as the Steelers’ starting QB last season, including an impressive road win over the Panthers in Week 15.
Fans and analysts eagerly await Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s postgame press conference, where more information regarding Pickett’s injury and his future availability will likely be revealed.