PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers welcomed back wide receiver George Pickens to full practice on Monday, enhancing his chances of returning to the field this Wednesday as the team takes on the Kansas City Chiefs. Pickens has been sidelined for the past three games due to a hamstring injury.
Since his injury earlier this month, the Steelers (10-5) have encountered difficulties in their passing offense, notably missing their top receiver. Pickens expressed optimism and indicated that he felt good during practice, setting his sights on playing against the reigning Super Bowl champions.
The 23-year-old sustained the injury during a practice drill on December 6, which marked the first stretch of missed games in his young career. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, they have recorded a 1-2 record without him, struggling particularly in recent losses to Philadelphia and Baltimore, where quarterback Russell Wilson logged only 345 passing yards without one of his best deep-threat options.
Wilson shared his thoughts on Pickens, pointing out that the wide receiver has maintained a positive attitude despite the challenges he has faced in the past few weeks. “He’s been great in the midst of his little trial here over the past few weeks,” Wilson noted. “And so we’re excited to have him back if that’s the case fully and let him do his thing.”
Additionally, the team reported that safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) also participated fully in practice on Tuesday after dealing with injuries sustained against Cleveland on December 8. Their potential return comes at a crucial time as the Steelers aim to keep pace with Baltimore for the lead in the AFC North.
On the other hand, cornerback Joey Porter (left knee) and wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) were absent from practice for a second consecutive day, suggesting they are unlikely to see action in the upcoming game against Kansas City.
As the week progresses, the Steelers will be closely monitoring the fitness levels of their players while preparing to take on one of the toughest teams in the league.
