The Pittsburgh Steelers will have one of their top pass rushers back but will be without their top wide receiver Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, as Alex Highsmith returns but George Pickens was ruled out.
Pickens (hamstring) appeared on the NFL-mandated injury report Friday but was placed on the Steelers’ list of inactive players before the AFC North game. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder leads the team in receptions (55) and receiving yards (850) and has scored three touchdowns this season.
Pickens was at the center of controversy in Cleveland, when he scuffled with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome Jr. through the end zone on a desperation pass as time expired in the Steelers’ 24-18 loss on Nov. 21.
The mercurial wideout also drew $20,462 in fines from the league after being called for a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the Steelers’ 44-38 win at the Cincinnati Bengals last week.
With Pickens out, Mike Williams could play a more prominent role. Acquired from the New York Jets at the trade deadline, Williams has only been targeted once, catching a 32-yard touchdown pass for the go-ahead score in a 28-27 win over the Washington Commanders. The Steelers will replace Pickens with wide receiver Scotty Miller, who has been inactive for three of the four games since Williams was acquired.
Losing Pickens adds some sting to the return of Highsmith, who missed the past three games with a left ankle injury. The Steelers now have a full complement of outside linebackers for the first time this season, with Highsmith playing opposite T.J. Watt and backups Nick Herbig, Preston Smith and Jeremiah Moon providing valuable depth.
Other Steelers inactives are cornerback Cory Trice Jr., guard Max Scharing and defensive end Dean Lowry, with Kyle Allen serving as the third quarterback. For the Browns, Bailey Zappe is the third quarterback and wide receivers Cedric Tillman and Jamari Thrash, running back D’Onta Forema, cornerback Chigozie Anusiem, defensive tackle Sam Kamara and defensive end James Houston are inactive.
