While it was initially perceived that Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers could be taking precautions with their star receiver George Pickens, the hamstring injury appears far more serious than previously believed. Pickens has been ruled out for the rematch on Saturday afternoon against the Baltimore Ravens.
George Pickens’ Week 16 Injury Status
Pickens had a terrific game against the Ravens the first time these teams played this season. He caught eight balls for 89 yards. Unfortunately, Tomlin and the Steelers will not have Pickens for the rematch on Saturday in Week 16 as he has been ruled out with a continuing hamstring injury.
Pickens did not practice this week. His status for a Week 17 tilt with the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day is also in peril due to the proximity and turnaround time. Pickens has been working out on the side doing individual drills, but that is all.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports that the Steelers are “hopeful” Pickens will play next week.
“He is running and he did make an effort for the doctors to try and clear him,” Breer reported. “Ultimately, that didn’t happen. He won’t play [in Week 16], but they’re optimistic that he’ll be able to go on Christmas Day against the Chiefs.”
From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: The #Steelers won't have WR George Pickens today, while an old friend — Diontae Johnson — was waived by the #Ravens. What's next? pic.twitter.com/0CtI59lWBZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 21, 2024
In the two games Russell Wilson has played without Pickens, he is averaging almost four fewer yards per attempt. Wilson has also only thrown for 286 yards over the last two games without Pickens. With Pickens’ absence, one of Wilson’s deep weapons is missing, and the veteran QB is going to need him in the lineup if the Steelers want a better chance to get the win.
Amid Pickens’ absence, the Steelers would likely wish to see rookie Roman Wilson, but he has not had many reps this season due to various injuries and is currently on injured reserve after playing in just one game (five snaps).
Reports have surfaced that the rookie Wilson could be out until next season, forcing wideouts Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, Mike Williams, and Scotty Miller into larger roles.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Offense Ranking in 2024
According to PFN’s Offensive+ metric, the Steelers currently have a D- ranking, coming in at 22nd on the year. We are eight starts into the Russell Wilson era, and the hope is that the veteran improves the 29th-ranked red-zone offense, though we’ve yet to see that ranking change with this offense in his hands.
Everything else, however, was trending in the right direction before Pickens’ injury that has sapped this passing game of some of its upside.
Najee Harris is running as hard as he has at any point in his career, which gives Pittsburgh’s offense the potential to move into the top half of the league by season’s end.
Pittsburgh does what Pittsburgh always does — not beat themselves under Tomlin’s tutelage.
The Steelers added Williams at the trade deadline to add upside to a unit that checks the basic boxes (13th in third-down rate and seventh in turnover percentage). He’s yet to make much of an impact, even with Pickens sidelined, but his profile is at least interesting in an offense that could be poised to peak at the right time.
The Steelers dropped 44 points on the Bengals in Week 13; while the opponent certainly factored into that, the idea of Pittsburgh having that sort of ceiling can make them as dangerous as anyone in the final month of the regular season.
