Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said yesterday that Kenny Pickett will be his starting quarterback this week in Miami, if he is cleared from the NFL concussion protocol.
In the meantime, the coach said Pickett and Mitch Trubisky will share the snaps when practices for Sunday night’s game begin today.
Other injured Steelers whose practice time could be affected by injuries this week include cornerback Levi Wallace and tight end Pat Freiermuth, who are also in concussion protocol but are expected to progress enough to play on Sunday night; center Mason Cole, who continues to struggle with foot and ankle problems, return man Steven Sims, with a hamstring issue; defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi, with a sore knee; and defensive backs Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Sutton, and Ahkello Witherspoon, who have a variety of injuries that led to them all missing the Tampa Bay game last week.
As to the game against the Dolphins, Tomlin said the Miami defense is high-pressure and forces opposing offenses to make mistakes.
Tomlin says the Steelers can’t afford to make the types of mistakes they made last Sunday against the Buccaneers, because Miami will make them pay. In particular, he challenged his offensive line to be better.
The game on Sunday will be the return to Miami of former Dolphins head coach Bryan Flores, now the Steelers’ senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach. Flores is still involved in a civil lawsuit against the Dolphins surrounding his firing as their head coach last January, but Tomlin said that is not an issue with the Steelers.
The Steelers coach also downplayed the idea that they will have an advantage in preparing for the Dolphins because of Flores.
Steelers/Dolphins kicks off at 8:20 Sunday night. The pregame begins at 6;20 on WDAD.
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