Steelers QB Kenny Pickett makes an important change during minicamp
The Pittsburgh Steelers coaches, players, and fans all hope to see Kenny Pickett take the famed "second-year leap" that many of the best QB's in the NFL have. In order to do that, however, he has to be on the field…playing in games. That means his health and safety are paramount, making no detail too […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers coaches, players, and fans all hope to see Kenny Pickett take the famed "second-year leap" that many of the best QB's in the NFL have.
In order to do that, however, he has to be on the field…playing in games.
That means his health and safety are paramount, making no detail too small in that regard:
Kenny Pickett missed two and a half games last year with two separate concussions. One occurred in mid-October, the other in early December. The recipe for success at quarterback starts with limiting injuries, especially ones like concussions.
Pickett's missed games certainly would have been more of a national topic if not for the concussion situation that Dolphins' QB Tua Tagovailoa was dealing with in Miami.
Even in the modern NFL, as the game has become safer all around with rule changes specifically designed to keep more signal callers upright, injuries still occur.
One way to insure that concussions are less prevalent is by carefully examining the plastic and insulated coating that protects every player's head:
The helmet.
"What's the process been like with the new helmet? You know this is three in eight months or whatever it is, do you like it?" Asked Mark Kaboly of The Athletic
"Yeah, I show up and there in my locker room and I just wear them," answered a grinning Pickett. "I trust our guys to put the best helmets in there and it was comfortable so it's fine with me."
"So you plan to use that one?" Kaboly followed up by pointing to Kenny's locker.
"Yea I'll use that one unless there's another one that's better," answered Pickett.
"Is that one meant to protect you better?" Asked Kaboly
"Yea, they said (equipment staff) that was the best one to have for quarterbacks so that's what I'm rolling with," finished Pickett.
As long as Pickett is rolling and his head isn't, I'm sure many Steelers fans will be just fine with the change. And while it may seem trivial, this is one step of many that both Pickett and the organization have taken to better ensure the health of who they deem the future of the franchise:
After slimming down for the combine prior to last season and playing at around 213 pounds, Pickett is currently sitting around 226 pounds. Pickett’s weight gain did not come out of anywhere as he mentioned earlier in the year that plans were in place to put on some mass in the offseason. With some extra size and strength, Pickett may be able to avoid some of the injuries that plagued his rookie campaign.-Adam Borst, Steelers Now
So whether it was spending millions on offensive linemen, eating more protein and lifting weights, or tinkering with the headgear, the Steelers and Pickett are aligned on the most important ability in football:
Availability.
Featured image via: © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
