Kenny Pickett injury does not appear serious, not yet ruled out for next Steelers game

Kenny Pickett walked through the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room repeatedly during the lead up to a 2 p.m. team meeting Monday. Less than 24 hours after suffering a knee injury that forced him out of a game at the Houston Texans, Pickett was walking with no obvious limp and without any brace or so much as a compression sleeve on his left knee.
Pickett carried a playbook and attended to his locker as he was spotted twice during a 45-minute period the media was permitted in the Steelers’ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex headquarters Monday.
All in all, it was a welcome sight for a team that feared it might be without its starting quarterback for a significant amount of time.
Pickett avoided serious injury, according to reports from ESPN and the NFL Network, and is still in the running to start the Steelers’ next game Sunday at home against the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. The NFL Network report got specific with Pickett’s injury, referencing it as a bone bruise and muscle strain.
With an idle week coming after the Ravens game, the Steelers (2-2) reportedly are considering sitting Pickett this week so he can more fully recover in time for their sixth game, Oct. 22 at the Los Angeles Rams.
Pickett suffered his injury while being sacked by Jonathan Greenard on a failed fourth-and-1 play with 1 minute, 10 seconds left in the third quarter of a 30-6 loss at the Houston Texans.
Mitch Trubisky finished the game at quarterback for the Steelers. Veteran Mason Rudolph is the Steelers’ No. 3 QB.
WR Fitzpatrick waived
The Steelers waived receiver Dez Fitzpatrick on Monday, a day after he did not play on offense and was limited to three special teams snaps during his Steelers regular-season debut.
Fitzpatrick was added to the active roster off the practice squad Sept. 14 in the wake of the hamstring injury suffered by No. 1 receiver Diontae Johnson.
But Fitzpatrick was inactive for the Steelers’ next two games. He was chosen over Gunner Olszewski to be in uniform against the Texans, but the Steelers effectively stuck with just three wide receivers Sunday. Special-teamer Miles Boykin played just six offensive snaps as a WR4.
Johnson is not eligible to come off injured reserve until after the Baltimore game.
It’s possible the Fitzpatrick move is related to injuries suffered Sunday by tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) and/or left tackle Dan Moore (knee). Tight end Rodney Williams is a candidate for a promotion from the practice squad.
If Fitzpatrick clears waivers, he could be re-signed to the practice squad.
A fourth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2021, Fitzpatrick has five career catches for 49 yards in 104 offensive snaps played over six NFL regular-season games.
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .