Steelers QB Kenny Pickett wears brace, practices on limited basis in return from knee injury

Wearing a brace to support his bruised left knee, Kenny Pickett practiced Wednesday and didn’t experience any limitations in his return from an injury suffered Sunday in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans.

“I’ll be ready to go by Sunday,” Pickett said, referring to the Steelers’ upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Pickett was listed as a limited participant on the team’s official injury report. While he may have taken fewer reps than on a normal Wednesday, Pickett said the brace didn’t hinder him on the field.

Pickett isn’t sure whether he will have to wear the brace in the game against the Ravens, whose 3-1 record puts them atop the AFC North, a game ahead of the Steelers and Cleveland Browns.

“It depends on how the week goes and how I feel Sunday,” he said. “I’m confident with the plan that we have that by Sunday I’ll be a lot better and be good to go.”

Mitch Trubisky, who replaced Pickett and played the fourth quarter in the loss against Houston, acknowledged he took some snaps with the first-team offense in practice and is prepared to step in for Pickett if needed.

“I got a few more reps than usual,” he said. “Just to help out Kenny and split them up a little bit and getting ready for the game on Sunday.”

Pickett was injured late in the third quarter when he was sacked for an 8-yard loss on a fourth-and-1 play that went haywire. He hobbled off the field and was examined in the blue medical tent before being assisted to the locker room.

Testing revealed Pickett had a bone bruise. At the time, he feared a more serious injury.

“A little bit from what the doctors were saying, but we got lucky it was what it was,” he said.

Pickett completed 15 of 23 passes for 114 yards. He was intercepted once and sacked three times while compiling a 59.0 passer rating that was the lowest of his 16 career starts. He has thrown as many interceptions (four) as touchdown passes this year.

“You’re frustrated. It hasn’t been good,” Pickett said about the offense’s struggles. “We know it’s nowhere near where it needs to be. There can’t be a panic. Guys have to continue to show up, put in the work and go out there and play hard on Sunday.”

He also said his confidence isn’t shaken.

“There are going to be ups and downs,” he said. “It’s not perfect. It’s nowhere near where we want it to be, but there is a ton of ball left. We’ve got a great opportunity this weekend, so that is where the focus is.”

Trubisky is prepared for his opportunity as well. When Pickett was concussed early in a December home game against Baltimore last year, Trubisky relieved and passed for 276 yards. He also threw three interceptions that contributed to a 16-14 loss.

“The overall thing for me is protecting the ball,” he said. “I made some good throws, moved it up and down, but ultimately the turnovers are what hurt us. I know that. All of the throws that went wrong, they are easily correctable. I’ve learned from that, and I’ll be ready to go.”