Steelers Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the surprise of the NFL season. Nearly all league experts and pundits picked the Steelers to finish last in the AFC North heading into the season.

However, behind the resurgence of veteran Quarterback Russell Wilson, the Steelers are 10-3 heading into this weekend’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh is set to enter its toughest crunch in its schedule.

The Steelers are due to play the Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs all within 10 days. As if the schedule wasn’t brutal enough, head coach Mike Tomlin has confirmed that the team is likely going to be without arguably its best player moving forward, as it tries its best to ensure the roster is ready for the playoffs.

“Steelers coach Mike Tomlin tells reporters that while George Pickens (hamstring) could theoretically play this week, he’s best described as doubtful. The hamstring a bit worse than it appeared,” reported NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Fans reacted to the news on social media.

People were interested in these podcasts
Play Episode
55min
The Play-By-Play
Kendrick Perkins and NIL, ESPN NBA broadcasters, World Cup rights competition
Kendrick Perkins' NIL company taking advantage of high school athletes? ESPN announces their NBA broadcasters but don't announce specific teams. Fox expected to get some competition for World Cup rights. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:05: ESPN 2024-25 NBA broadcaster announcement-21:31: Dan Murphy’s article on Kendrick Perkins’ NIL company-33:40: Feedback from last week’s NFL broadcasters draft-44:17: FIFA World Cup rights-49:22: TBS baseball scorebugYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
Introducing: The Play-By-Play
The Play-By-Play is a sports media talk show brought to you by Awful Announcing. Join AA writers Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod as they discuss, debate and dissect the latest happenings in the sports media world and provide their unique insight on the industry’s biggest names and newsmakers. Subscribe to The Play-By-Play on Apple, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
Loving Dan Hurley, Shohei Ohtani 'Face of MLB,' Gen Z and sports
Dan Hurley rubs many the wrong way, so is that why he's great for college basketball? Is Shohei Ohtani the face of Major League Baseball. Are the lack of Cinderellas really what's destroying college basketball. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including an in-depth discussion with Morning Consult's Ellyn Briggs on how Gen Z consumes sports, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:04: No Cinderellas in March Madness-21:11: Ellyn Briggs joins the show-21:39: Best way to summarize how Gen Z consumes sports-24:57: Gen Z having a strong connection to athletes, going to games-29:49: NIL and Gen Z-31:22: Sports going away from a made-for-TV product?-34:17: Gen Z and Gen-Alpha sports participation-37:13: Public reaction to Jackie Robinson article temporarily taken down-42:30: Women’s sports fans supporting activism among players-46:33: LIV Golf/Saudi Arabia and sportswashing-50:20: What has to happen for a new league to work in 2025?-54:48: Dan Hurley-57:48: Shohei Ohtani as the “Face of MLB”You can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
Super Bowl storylines, sportsbooks dialing back sponsored content
Two weeks of Super Bowl coverage is going to bring repeated talking points. Sports betting companies are cutting funding for sponsored content. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Deion Sanders and the Dallas Cowboys on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-2:23: Super Bowl storylines you’re going to get tired of hearing-6:09: The Super Bowl storyline draft-32:22: Sports betting companies cutting back on sponsored content-47:59: Awful Announcing’s new newsletter/Deion Sanders and the Dallas Cowboys-51:52: ESPN appYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Pickens can’t catch a break! And neither can my FF team,” one fan said on Twitter.

“They are making sure he is healthy for the Christmas game with the Chiefs. Both are fighting for #1 seed in the AFC,” speculated one fan.

“Well hamstrings suck in healing. Everyone is different and definitely should err on side of caution and make sure he is 100% for playoff run,” added another fan.

“Pretending to be injured so Quinyon don’t clamp him is dastardly work,” added another fan.

Hopefully, Pickens is back on the field in time for the playoffs.

About Qwame Skinner

Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. At Next Impulse, Qwame covers sports with the same enthusiasm he brings to his recreational basketball and softball leagues.