Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is expected to miss time amid Pittsburgh's race for the playoffs.
Pickett suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and is expected to miss the team's Week 14 Thursday night game against the New England Patriots and potentially more time, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reporting Sunday evening.
The second-year QB has led the Steelers to a 7-5 record and has thrown for 2,070 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions on the season.
He hurt his ankle in the second quarter after a scramble up the middle for a 2-yard gain near the goal line. Veteran Mitchell Trubisky took Pittsburgh's next snap, a handoff on fourth-and-goal that went for no gain.
The game was tied, 3-3, at the time of Pickett's exit. He completed 7 of 10 passes for 70 yards before suffering the injury.
He was initially deemed questionable to return but was ruled out before the third quarter began, putting Trubisky in the driver's seat for Pittsburgh through multiple weather delays.
The Steelers managed just one more score in Pickett's absence, while the Cardinals put up three touchdowns the rest of the game to earn their third win of the season and deliver a blow to Pittsburgh.
Trubisky finished the game 11 of 17 for 117 yards and a TD pass.
Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters following the game that the team will continue with Trubisky should Pickett miss time, which has now turned out to be the case.
For however long Pickett remains out, Trubisky, a seven-year veteran with one Pro Bowl appearance, will look to keep the current five-seed Steelers in the thick of the AFC playoff picture.
