The Pittsburgh Steelers thought they'd escaped a head injury to starting Quarterback Kenny Pickett in Week 14 after he took a controversial hit from Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Roquan Smith. The rookie headed into the blue injury tent after the series, cleared protocol and returned to the field for the team's next offensive drive.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (18) during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Fred Vuich)
After Justin Tucker put the ball through the uprights for the game's opening score, Pickett jumped on for a quick three and out. After that, Mitch Trubisky was under center for the team for the rest of the game.
The 24-year-old told reporters Thursday after practice that he could tell something wasn't right during the quick drive and notified team officials of his symptoms.
"I thought I was good to go, felt good," Pickett said via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "And I got back out there and started running, and they started coming into play more. I'm moving and things are going fast. That's when symptoms started to come up, and I had to go inside. I came off the field, was not feeling good, so that's why I went in."
Pickett has now suffered a pair of concussions in his first year in the NFL and the Steelers are taking steps to try and decrease the likelihood of another. He's now equipped with the same helmet as Pat Friermuth, who dealt with concussion issues in his first two seasons in the league.
Looks like Pickett has switched to a new Riddell Axiom helmet, which Riddell claims provides better protection against head injuries.
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) December 15, 2022
The face shield comes standard with the helmet, and is recommended by Riddell to be used. #Steelers @937theFan
📸: @steelers pic.twitter.com/lALcF33U34
Last week, Pickett was limited in practice and said that he probably could have pushed it to return against the Carolina Panthers, but after talking with medical professionals made "the right call to not play."
The signal-caller suffered his second concussion in eight weeks but isn't about to let it change the way he plays.
"It comes with playing football, and it's going to happen," he said. "I was lucky early in my career and in college really not having many concussions or at all really experiencing what I've experienced these past two. It happens. It's football."
Steelers Rookie Starting QB1 Taking Hints From Predecessor
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 456 yards in a Week 12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He left the game late in the fourth quarter and was placed in concussion protocol / Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
In November of 2015, the Steelers were playing against the Seattle Seahawks, and starting Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger began to complain about issues with his peripheral vision. Backup Landry Jones completed one pass to Running Back DeAngelo Williams for 38 yards in the final offensive series of the game as the team lost 39-30.
The legendary two-time Super Bowl champion is well known for his tough play in physical football games and knows a thing or two about playing through the pain. But in this instance, knew he needed to stop playing.
"Probably everybody who has ever played the game of football hasn't reported an injury," the 2004 first round pick told Peter King on his podcast. "For me, it wasn't about an injury. I’ve played through many injuries, but when you talk about your head, that is a different ball game. You can replace a lot of body parts, but you can’t replace a brain."
"You see the effects of it from past players, players who have taken their lives, the CTE, all that stuff and, you know, I’m thinking about my family and long term. I love this game and I love my brothers that I play football with, and I would encourage any player who has an issue with their brain to just report it properly. We are blessed to play this game but we also have a life to live.”
As illustrated in Roethlisberger's comments, players are thinking about their safety and it's good that he, and hopefully others, have realized how serious head injuries are.
We all want to see our favorite players on the field every week but they're people with friends, families and a life to live after football.
It's great that Pickett has a good grasp of this and is worried about the potential long-term effects and not just rushing back to play.
Photo Credit: Steelers.com
So, Steeler Nation, what do you think about Pickett's self-reporting of symptoms? Would you be able to if it meant not playing? Let us know in the comment section or on social media.
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