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The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett plans to play against Tennessee on Thursday night despite a rib injury that forced him to sit out the second half of a loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.
Pickett said he "for sure" will be on the field when Pittsburgh (4-3) hosts the Titans (3-4). The second-year starter watched the final two quarters against the Jaguars from afar after getting drilled by Jacksonville defensive end Adam Gotsis.
Gotsis hit Pickett in the left side of the chest and then drove him into the ground in the waning moments of the first half. Pickett sat on the soggy Acrisure Stadium turf for several minutes before slowly walking off. He came out to warm up for the second half, but then went back to the training room while backup Mitch Trubisky took over.
"(I was) doing what I could to try and go back out there," Pickett said. "I felt like I couldn't throw it the way I needed to throw it to win so just listened to what the doctors said."
Asked if the play deserved a flag for unnecessary roughness, Pickett shrugged.
"You know, I've had a couple where I feel like I was going to get some (calls) but I haven't gotten them yet," he said. "It is what it is, I've just got to keep playing."
The biggest issue for Pickett will be pain management, particularly on a short week. He did some "light" throwing on Tuesday and could be more involved in Wednesday's walkthrough. The only sure way for the ribs to heal is to rest, not an option with Pittsburgh playing twice in five days.
"We've got to do what we've got to do to play," Pickett said.
Pittsburgh's offense has spent most of the first two months of the season essentially running in place. The Steelers are near the bottom of the league in every major statistical category, including points (29th) and yards (30th).
While offensive coordinator Matt Canada has come under heavy criticism, Pickett believes the issue isn't the game plan, but the inability to execute with any sort of consistency.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson dropped a pass down the middle of the field on the first play against Jacksonville and later saw a potential touchdown slip away when Pickett's pass to the end zone went behind him because of what Pickett described as a "miscommunication."
"It's not about scripting, it's not about anything," Pickett said. "It's about us playing and being better than what we're doing right now. It's not where it needs to be and it has to get better."
The Steelers used a run-heavy approach over the second half of last season to take some of the pressure off Pickett during his rookie season. Asked if his injury makes it even more important for Pittsburgh to be able to run the ball effectively, Pickett shook his head.
"I'm not going to use (the ribs) as a crutch," he said. "We've got to play well."
Pickett does plan to use a flak jacket, something he's used regularly throughout his career. He called the timing of the injury -- which came with Pittsburgh finally starting to gain some momentum -- "frustrating" but part of the game.
"I've been doing it for a little bit, it is what it is," he said. "You've just got to be available and get ready to go on Thursday night."
Trade deadline
n Derrick Henry, Davante Adams and everyone on the Denver Broncos stayed put. Chase Young, Montez Sweat and Joshua Dobbs are on the move. Rasul Douglas, Ezra Cleveland and Donovan Peoples-Jones also were dealt Tuesday before the NFL's trade deadline.
Overall, there were six deals on the final day teams could improve their rosters by acquiring someone from another club.
The San Francisco 49ers (5-3) made the biggest move of the day, getting Young from the Washington Commanders for a compensatory third-round draft pick. Young, the 2020 No. 2 overall pick, joins former teammate Nick Bosa on San Francisco's defensive line.
The Commanders traded their top pass rusher, Sweat, to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick. Sweat, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, wasn't going to be re-signed by Washington (3-5).
Dobbs, who was Arizona's starting quarterback this season, goes to Minnesota to help replace the injured Kirk Cousins. The Vikings sent a sixth-round draft pick to the Cardinals and also receive a conditional seventh-rounder in return. Dobbs joins his seventh team in seven seasons and third since training camp.
The AFC South-leading Jaguars (6-2) improved their offensive line by getting Cleveland from Minnesota for a sixth-round pick. Cleveland had started 45 consecutive games at left guard before missing the past two because of a foot injury. Walker Little, Jacksonville's starting left guard has been dealing with a knee injury.
The Bills fill an immediate need at cornerback at a reasonable price. Douglas will count about $600,000 against the salary cap for a team that entered the day with around $4.1 million available.
The Detroit Lions (6-2) added depth at wide receiver by acquiring Peoples-Jones from Cleveland for a 2025 sixth-round pick.