Steelers QB out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a high right ankle sprains

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to try and move on after a nightmarish loss to Arizona without quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Pickett is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a high right ankle sprain on Monday. Mitch Trubisky will get the start on Thursday night when Pittsburgh (7-5) hosts New England (2-10).

Tomlin declined to get into specifics on how many games Pickett might miss. Pickett had been “managing” the injury recently according to Tomlin only to have it aggravated in the second quarter on Sunday when Cardinals defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter fell on Pickett’s legs at the end of a 2-yard scramble.

The injury is to Pickett’s right ankle. He missed multiple games during his 2020 season at the University of Pittsburgh after having surgery on his left ankle.

Tomlin indicated the team doesn’t believe the current injury is “chronic” and is optimistic Pickett will return before the end of the regular season.

Sunday marked the sixth time since Pickett was moved to the starting job a month into the 2022 season that he’s lost playing time because of an injury, including three times this season alone.

Trubisky played in the fourth quarter of a loss to Houston on Oct. 1 after Pickett bruised his left knee. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft also took over against Jacksonville on Oct. 29 after Pickett left with a rib injury.