Steelers’ Kenny Pickett Taking Extra Precaution To Prevent Concussions In 2023

In Kenny Pickett‘s rookie season, the Steelers fanbase was introduced to a new QB to lead the franchise for the foreseeable future. There was plenty for fans to be excited about, as Pickett was improving by the week. Every time he stepped onto the field he  was seemingly becoming more comfortable in the Steelers system, constantly executing difficult throws on the run and leading the Steelers on game winning drives later in the season. He finished his rookie year with 7 TDs, 9 INTs and 2,400 yards through the air only playing in 10 full games. While Pickett still has plenty of room to improve upon regarding his on field ability, one of the main focuses of this off-season for Pickett should be to trying to prevent concussions for the 2023 NFL season.

Pickett found himself on the concussion protocol twice in his short NFL career thus far, once versus the Bucs, and once versus the Ravens. We have seen the effects a series of concussion’s can have on NFL players, most memorably with Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa. Tua took a massive hit in a week 3 game against the Buffalo Bills in the 2023 NFL season. Tua was seen wobbling after the hit and was later “cleared” to go back into the playing field . The Hit he took most likely resulted in a concussion that went undiagnosed. The very next week he took a collateral hit from Bengals DT Josh Topou. When Tua was tackled the back of his head was slammed against the turf, he then suffered some form  of neurological spasm with  his fingers, which was captured on live television.

Tua’s series of concussions can be related to Pickett’s because both sets of concussions were not a direct impact of the hit, they happened because their head’s hit the turf. obviously Tua’s set of concussions had him out for an extended period of time, some doctors still question weather it is safe for Tua to return to the game of football altogether. Tua himself even questioned retiring just at the age of 25, speaking publicly about it in a team interview.

To prevent a 3rd concussion or anything remotely similar to Tua’s situation, Pickett has taken precaution for the 2023 NFL season by changing his choice of helmet. According to reliable Steelers outlet, Mark Kaboly, Pickett Will now wear the Zero2 Matrix QB helmet. This helmet is specifically designed for QBs in the instance where their head snaps back and hits the turf. The Helmet will help to limit the  impact taken to the head in this situation.

It would also help if the Steelers offensive line could offer him a bit more protection as he was sacked 27 times in just 13 games. But with new additions to the offensive line and a new helmet design, it’s good to see the Steelers and Pickett taking the proper steps to protect him in 2023.