The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for an important matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, but they may do so without one of their star players.

Coach Mike Tomlin indicated on Tuesday that wide receiver George Pickens is likely to be sidelined for a second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury that has turned out to be more serious than initially expected.

Pickens, who is a key contributor to the Steelers’ offense and currently leads the team with 55 receptions and a substantial 850 receiving yards, was unable to participate in Sunday’s victory over the Cleveland Browns.

The injury occurred during postpractice drills last Thursday, where Pickens first experienced discomfort. In hopes of having him ready for the game, the team decided to hold him out of practice on Friday. Ultimately, Tomlin opted to make him inactive rather than risk further injury by giving him limited playing time.

An MRI conducted late on Sunday assessed the injury’s severity, and Tomlin expressed uncertainty about Pickens’ availability for the upcoming trip to face the Eagles, who have a strong record of 11-2.

“There is a potential for him playing this week, but it seems unlikely,” Tomlin remarked. “If I had to make a call right now, I would categorize him as doubtful.”

In Pickens’ absence, the Steelers’ offense initially struggled against the Browns before finding momentum. Quarterback Russell Wilson connected for touchdowns with both Pat Freiermuth and Van Jefferson. Additionally, Scotty Miller and Mike Williams, who had seen limited action recently, stepped up with significant contributions as the Steelers celebrated their 10th victory of the season, marking the 11th time the team has reached this milestone during Tomlin’s tenure.