After 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, both fans of the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers learned QB Kenny Pickett wasn’t going to have new teammates at the trade deadline.

A more important question among Steelers fans, though, was will their franchise quarterback be healthy enough to suit up against the Tennessee Titans for Thursday Night Football?

Kenny Pickett Reveals Injury Update

Pickett sustained a massive hit from Jacksonville Jaguars DT Adam Gotsis to the ribs, forcing him to leave the Sunday 20-10 loss at home.

With the Steelers playing on Thursday night, the team held practice and a media session with reporters on Halloween. That was when Pickett answered what his status is for the TNF game against the AFC South opponent.

“I’ll be playing for sure,” Pickett told reporters.

Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett says he’s “playing for sure” against the Titans on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/NJxmO5WgtI

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 31, 2023

Pickett sustained his hit during the second quarter of the 10-point loss. Backup QB Mitchell Trubisky wound up handling the reins for the rest of the afternoon. Pickett ended his day by hitting 10 of his 16 passes for 73 yards before going down.

In all four offensive possessions, Pickett was behind center, and every drive ended with a three-and-out and the Jags forcing the punt team to come out.

How Has Pickett Fared in Second NFL Season?

Pickett has managed to start in all seven games, and per his words, he’s expected to make his eighth start this week.

But has there been a progression from the second-year passer or a degression?

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From a numbers standpoint, Pickett hasn’t produced the most astronomical of numbers. Most Steelers fans have placed blame on the play calling of OC Matt Canada, and most fans are demanding he gets fired by HC Mike Tomlin. Here’s a closer look at Pickett’s season so far:

• Pickett hasn’t produced a single 300-yard game this season.
• He’s only had one game when he threw two touchdown passes — a Sept. 24 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
• He’s had three zero-passing-touchdown games. That includes the Jaguars loss and the 24-17 road win over the Los Angeles Rams that ended with a controversial ball placement call that gave Pittsburgh the first down with no timeouts left.
• Pickett’s completion percentage of 61 percent is lower than his rookie output of 63 percent, which he posted in 12 games last season.

Pickett hasn’t been used much as a runner, either. He only has 22 rushing yards on 25 carries for one touchdown.

Can Pickett Be in for a Rebound Against Tennessee?

Looking ahead to the matchup with the Titans, Pickett is set to face a defense that no longer has Pro Bowl S Kevin Byard. He was a pre-NFL trade deadline move to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Even with that void, the Titans are a respectable 11th overall against the pass this season. As rookie QB Will Levis lit up the Atlanta Falcons with four touchdowns, the Tennessee defense surrendered just 246 yards through the air in the 28-23 Titans win on Sunday.

Furthermore, the Titans are yet to allow a single 300-yard passer this season. The most yards they surrendered was 282 in the season-opening loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Still, this next part could be a cause of concern on the Steelers’ side as Pickett recovers from his injured ribs. Tennessee produced six sacks of both Atlanta QB Desmond Ridder and QB Taylor Heinicke in the five-point win.

The Steelers, though, still get a boost of relief in knowing Pickett can still lead the offense. Pittsburgh will still need a healthy Pickett to continue their push for the postseason, as the Steelers currently hold the sixth seed in the seven-team AFC playoff race.

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