Steelers QB Kenny Pickett: 'I'm playing for sure' against Titans

In Kenny Pickett’s mind, there is no question who will start at quarterback Thursday night for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite missing the second half of the Steelers’ game Sunday with a rib injury, Pickett said he will be under center when the Steelers face the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium.

“I’m playing for sure,” Pickett said Tuesday after practice.

Pickett took part in what he termed “light” throwing during the workout that resembled a walk-through more than a bona fide practice session. The session lasted little more than an hour and featured few 11-on-11 drills.

“I did as much as everybody else did,” Pickett said.

Backup Mitch Trubisky will get the start if Pickett aggravates his injury. Coach Mike Tomlin previously said a decision on Pickett could come after pregame warmups.

“We just need to see him being able to play at full speed,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said Tuesday. “A lot of that will be (having) trust in him. We have great trust in Kenny.”

Pickett said he continues to feel pain in his rib when he attempts passes.

“It’s when I’m coming through, (not) being able to have that torque and rotating,” he said. “Obviously, your ribs are a huge part of that. It’s being smart these next two days and getting ready to go Thursday night.”

Pickett said he already wears a protective jacket under his uniform when he plays. That’s about the only precaution he can take aside from ensuring he rests his ribs until game time.

“You do what you have to do to play,” he said.

Canada said the Steelers always script plays for each of their quarterbacks in case an injury arises. Trubisky will have input into the plays he would like to use if he is asked to start.

“You’re always prepared for something like that to happen,” Canada said. “We have a plan of what we like in the game plan as coaches. There might be a slight variation. If you look at a section of plays, Kenny might have a different preference of plays one through four than Mitch does.

“We always have that ready to go. That won’t be any different.”

Pickett was injured after taking a hit from Jacksonville’s Adam Gotsis after he threw a pass late in the first half of the Steelers’ 20-10 loss Sunday. Pickett warmed up before the start of the second half before giving way to Trubisky, who played the rest of the game.

“I was doing what I could to try to go back out there,” Pickett said, “but I felt like I couldn’t throw it the way I needed to throw it to help us win. I listened to what the doctors said, and I’ll go from there.”

Gotsis was not penalized for roughing the passer on his hit to Pickett’s midsection. Earlier in the game, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence benefited from a flag against Steelers safety Keanu Neal following a similarly placed and timed hit.

“I have had a couple where I thought I’d get some (help from officials), but I haven’t gotten them yet,” Pickett said.