Wearing a heavy brace on his left leg, Kenny Pickett practiced with his teammates yesterday and later said he would be ready to play on Sunday against the Ravens. Pickett suffered a bone bruise in his knee in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans. Although he was listed as “limited” on the official midweek injury report, he seemed to have no mobility problems. He did take fewer snaps than normal and Mitch Trubisky had more than the usual amount of snaps with the first team offense.
Pickett said the offense’s struggles on Sunday against Houston showed how important it is to be good on every play.
Pickett says the Steelers know they have to play better, but they have time to find their game.
The Baltimore defense keys off their ferocious inside linebackers, Patrick Queen and Roquon Smith, both of whom are eager to work against a Steelers offensive line that is weakened by injuries. Steelers center Mason Cole says Queen and Smith will be a difficult challenge.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is a rookie, but he is well aware of the intensity of the Steelers/Ravens rivalry from his childhood, when his dad played for the Steelers. Porter says Ravens Week is special.
The Steelers practiced in pads yesterday for the first time since the start of the regular season, and afterward the players seemed to have enjoyed it. Among those not on the practice field at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex were guard James Daniels, tackles Dan Moore and Chuks Okorafor, tight end Pat Freiermuth, defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, and punter Pressley Harvin III, all of whom are injured; and guard Isaac Seumalo and cornerback Patrick Peterson were given the day off.
With Freiermuth very likely to miss Sunday’s game, the Steelers have signed tight end Rodney Williams off their practice squad to the active roster.
