Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett limped off the field and into the blue sideline medical tent late in the third quarter. He eventually made his way up the tunnel and into the training room.
The Steelers have ruled him out with a knee injury.
Pickett was injured with 1:10 remaining in the third quarter when he was sacked for a 9-yard loss by Jonathan Greenard. Pickett was in the shotgun on a fourth-and-one play from the Houston 33 when Greenard made his second sack of the day.
Pickett grabbed his left leg and was favoring it as he left the field.
He is 15-of-23 for 114 yards and an interception.
Mitch Trubisky is warming up and will need a big comeback for the Steelers to avoid a loss.
Houston leads 23-6 after a trick play early in the fourth quarter. Devin Singletary took the handoff from C.J. Stroud, rolled right and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz.
The Texans dominated the first half, taking a 16-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Steelers were lucky it isn’t worse.
Houston has 271 yards and the Steelers only 53.
Despite playing behind a makeshift offensive line, C.J. Stroud has completed 10 of 20 passes for 179 yards with a touchdown. He also has run for 15 yards on three carries.
Dameon Pierce has 61 yards on 14 carries, and Nico Collins has four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Ka’imi Fairbairn has field goals of 36, 38 and 39 yards.
Kenny Pickett is 9-of-14 for 35 yards and an interception. Steven Nelson returned the pick 33 yards to set up a field goal. The Texans have two sacks of Pickett.
George Pickens has two catches for 8 yards, and Najee Harris has 16 yards on five carries.
C.J. Stroud has a makeshift offensive line in front of him. It hasn’t mattered so far.
The Texans took the opening kickoff and went 69 yards in 12 plays, eating 6:05 off the clock.
Houston, which entered with three touchdowns on 11 red zone possessions, scored a red zone touchdown. Nico Collins caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to give Houston a 7-0 lead.
Stroud went 2-of-3 for 29 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive and ran for 15 yards on two carries.
Dameon Pierce had five carries for 19 yards and one catch-and-run for 27 yards.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
The Browns will not have quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday, but they will have tight end David Njoku.
Njoku was added to the injury report on Saturday after suffering burns to his hands and face in a fire pit accident and head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the team had to see if he could put a helmet on before deciding on his status. Njoku passed that test and got the green light to play against the Ravens.
Watson is out with the shoulder injury that limited him to just a few throws in practice this week. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will make his first NFL start.
On the Ravens side, running back Justice Hill, center Tyler Linderbaum, and safety Kyle Hamilton are all active after being listed as questionable. Safety Marcus Williams was also in that group, but he is inactive.
Ravens at Browns
Ravens: WR Odell Beckham Jr., WR Rashod Bateman, T Ronnie Stanley, CB Marlon Humphrey, EDGE Odafe Oweh, S Marcus Williams, QB Josh Johnson
Browns: QB Deshaun Watson, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, CB Kahlef Hailassie, C Luke Wypler, DE Isaiah McGuire, DT Siaki Ika
Dolphins at Bills
Dolphins: QB Skylar Thompson, EDGE Jaelan Phillips, S DeShon Elliott, CB Eli Apple, C Connor Williams, TE Tyler Kroft
Bills: S Jordan Poyer, CB Kaiir Elam, T Germain Ifedi, OL Alec Anderson, DT Poona Ford
Broncos at Bears
Broncos: LB Frank Clark, C Alex Forsyth, LB Josey Jewell, OLB Ronnie Perkins, DT Mike Purcell, S Justin Simmons, S JL Skinner.
Bears: DB Eddie Jackson, DB Jaylon Johnson, QB Nathan Peterman, WR Chase Claypool, RB D’onta Foreman
Steelers at Texans
Steelers: QB Mason Rudolph, P Pressley Harvin, OL James Daniels, WR Gunner Olszewski, NT Breiden Fehoko
Texans: CB Tavierre Thomas, LB Denzel Perryman, QB Case Keenum, RB Dare Ogunbowale, OL Michael Deiter, T Josh Jones, T Laremy Tunsil
Vikings at Panthers
Vikings: S Lewis Cine, TE Nick Muse, C Garrett Bradbury, DL Khyiris Tonga, QB Jaren Hall
Panthers: RB Raheem Blackshear, WR Jonathan Mingo, S Xavier Woods, CB Sam Webb, LB Deion Jones, T David Sharpe
Rams at Colts
Rams: RB Zach Evans, OL Zach Thomas, OL Alaric Jackson, DL Earnest Brown
Colts: QB Sam Ehlinger, CB Darrell Baker Jr., DE Isaiah Land, LB Cameron McGrone, C Ryan Kelly, T Bernhard Raimann, TE Will Mallory
Buccaneers at Saints
Buccaneers: LB SirVocea Dennis, CB Jamel Dean, CB Derrek Pitts Jr., LB Markees Watts, OL Brandon Walton, TE Payne Durham, DL Calijah Kancey
Saints: QB Jake Luton, WR A.T. Perry, CB Paulson Adebo, DB Jordan Howden, OL Cesar Ruiz, TE Foster Moreau, DE Kyle Phillips
Commanders at Eagles
Commanders: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., DE K.J. Henry, T Trent Scott, G Chris Paul, TE Curtis Hodges, WR Mitchell Tinsley
Eagles: WR Quez Watkins, QB Tanner McKee, S Sydney Brown, RB Rashaad Penny, S Justin Evans, OL Tyler Steen, DT Moro Ojomo
Bengals at Titans
Bengals: CB DJ Ivey, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB Devin Harper, OL Trey Hill, OL Jackson Carman, TE Irv Smith
Titans: WR Treylon Burks, OL Peter Skoronski, LB Luke Gifford, DB Elijah Molden, OL Jaelyn Duncan, QB Will Levis
This year, the NFL has begun announcing the fines imposed on players for on-field rules infractions. We’ll be posting separate items on fines of significance.
We’ll also be listing all of the fines here, by team, player, announced violation, and amount.
All fines are subject to appeal. It’s not known whether the NFL will update the weekly disclosure of imposed fines with information as to the outcome of the appeals.
Here are the Week 3 fines, covering 20 teams, 34 players, and 1.35 percent of all plays:
Falcons, Kaden Ellis, unnecessary roughness, $16,391.
Falcons, Keith Smith, unnecessary roughness, $87,418.
Bears, Jaquan Brisker, unnecessary roughness, $9,287.
Bears, Tyrique Stevenson, unnecessary roughness, $6,515.
Bengals, Cam Taylor-Britt, unnecessary roughness, $7,516.
Cowboys, Chuma Edoga, unnecessary roughness, $6,847.
Cowboys, Jonathan Hankins, unnecessary roughness, $7,319.
Broncos, Kareem Jackson, unnecessary roughness, $11,473.
Broncos, Drew Sanders, unnecessary roughness, $5,793.
Broncos, Patrick Surtain, unnecessary roughness, $11,473.
Lions, Alex Anzalone, unnecessary roughness, $13,922.
Lions, Brian Branch, unnecessary roughness, $8,103.
Lions, Brian Branch (second fine), unnecessary roughness, $8,103.
Packers, Rasul Douglas, unnecessary roughness, $11,473.
Packers, Ben Sims, unnecessary roughness, $4,167.
Texans, Jonathan Greenard, unnecessary roughness, $7,604.
Colts, Kwity Paye, unnecessary roughness, $10,927.
Chargers, Raheem Layne, unnecessary roughness, $4,870.
Chargers, Maxx Crosby, unnecessary roughness, $10.927.
Dolphins, Raheem Mostert, unnecessary roughness, $10,927.
Vikings, Harrison Smith, unnecessary roughness, $21,855.
Patriots, Jabrill Peppers, unnecessary roughness, $43,709.
Patriots, JuJu Smith-Schuster, unnecessary roughness, $16,391.
Saints, Tony Jones, unnecessary roughness, $5,222.
Giants, A’Shawn Robinson, unnecessary roughness, $11,473.
Giants, Jihad Ward, unnecessary roughness, $8,139.
Giants, Leonard Williams, a hit on a quarterback, $16,391.
Steelers, Kwon Alexander, unnecessary roughness, $43,709.
Steelers, Miles Killebrew, unnecessary roughness, $13,792.
49ers, Trent Williams, unnecessary roughness, $11,473.
Seahawks, Julian Love, unnecessary roughness, $21,833.
Seahawks, DK Metcalf, unnecessary roughness, $16,391.
Seahawks, Teez Tabor, unnecessary roughness, $6,000.
Titans, Arden Key, a hit on a quarterback, $43,710.
The fourth week of the 2023 NFL season kicked off on Thursday with a win by the Lions and it continues with 14 more games on Sunday, which means that the 28 teams in those games submitted their final injury reports of the week on Friday.
The Seahawks and Giants play on Monday and their final injury reports will be released on Saturday.
Falcons at Jaguars (in London)
RB Cordarrelle Patterson (thigh) is questionable to make his regular season debut for the Falcons. WR Josh Ali (ankle) is out.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones (knee), LB Devin Lloyd (thumb), and DB Antonio Johnson (hamstring) are out. T Anton Harrison (ankle), DL Foley Fatukasi (shoulder), and WR Jamal Agnew (quad) are listed as questionable.
Dolphins at Bills
Dolphins EDGE Jaelan Phillips (oblique) is out. RB Salvon Ahmed (groin), T Terron Armstead (back, ankle, knee), S DeShon Elliott (ankle, groin), and C Connor Williams (groin) were designated as questionable.
S Jordan Poyer (knee) will not play for the Bills.
Broncos at Bears
LB Frank Clark (hip), LB Josey Jewell (hip), and DT Mike Purcell (ribs) are out for the Broncos while S Justin Simmons (hip) is questionable to play.
S Eddie Jackson (foot) and CB Jaylon Johnson (hamstring) won’t play for the Bears. RB Travis Homer (ankle) is questionable.
Ravens at Browns
Ravens WR Rashod Bateman (hamstring) and WR Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) will miss Sunday’s game. CB Marlon Humphrey (foot), EDGE Odafe Oweh (ankle), and EDGE David Ojabo (ankle/knee) are also out while T Ronnie Stanley (knee) is doubtful. RB Justice Hill (toe), S Kyle Hamilton (back), C Tyler Linderbaum (ankle) and S Marcus Williams (pectoral) make up the questionable group.
QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) is listed as questionable after a week of limited practices, but the rest of the Browns are good to go.
Steelers at Texans
The Steelers ruled out G James Daniels (groin) and P Pressley Harvin (right hamstring).
T Laremy Tunsil (knee), G/T Josh Jones (hand), LB Denzel Perryman (hand, wrist), and CB Tavierre Thomas (hand) are all out for the Texans. C Michael Dieter (concussion) is their only questionable player.
Vikings at Panthers
C Garrett Bradbury (back) and DE Marcus Davenport (ankle) are listed as questionable for the Vikings. S Lewis Cine (hamstring) is the only player ruled out.
The Panthers will have QB Bryce Young (ankle) back in the lineup. RB Miles Sanders (groin) is listed as questionable along with LB Frankie Luvu (hip) and WR Jonathan Mingo (concussion).
Rams at Colts
TE Tyler Higbee (Achilles), T Alaric Jackson (hamstring), S John Johnson (face), and WR Ben Skowronek (Achilles) are the Rams’ questionable players.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson (concussion) is good to go, but C Ryan Kelly (concussion) and T Bernhard Raimann (concussion) are not going to play. DT DeForest Buckner (groin, back), QB Sam Ehlinger (right shoulder), and G Quenton Nelson (toe) are all listed as questionable.
Buccaneers at Saints
CB Carlton Davis (toe) could return for the Bucs after being listed as questionable, but CB Jamel Dean (neck/shoulder), DL Calijah Kancey (calf), CB Derrick Pitts (hamstring), and LB SirVocea Dennis (hamstring) are all out. DT Vita Vea (pectoral) and linebacker Devin White (foot) are also questionable.
Saints QB Derek Carr (right shoulder) is listed as questionable after returning to practice on Friday.
Commanders at Eagles
RB Chris Rodriguez (illness) is out for the Commanders and S Percy Butler (foot) is listed as questionable.
The Eagles ruled out S Sydney Brown (hamstring) and WR Quez Watkins (hamstring). S Justin Evans (neck) is considered questionable.
Bengals at Titans
QB Joe Burrow (calf) will start for the Bengals. TE Irv Smith (hamstring) is out and LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee) is questionable.
WR Treylon Burks (knee), G Peter Skoronski (abdomen), CB Elijah Molden (hamstring), and LB Luke Gifford (hamstring) are out for the Titans.
Raiders at Chargers
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion) and EDGE Maxx Crosby (knee) headline the Raiders report. Both are listed as questionable along with CB Nate Hobbs (ankle), S Roderic Teamer (Achilles), and DE Malcolm Koonce (groin). LB Curtis Bolton (knee) is out.
The Chargers are set to play without RB Austin Ekeler (ankle) and Derwin James (hamstring) after listing them as doubtful. EDGE Joey Bosa (hamstring, toe) and S Alohi Gilman (heel) drew questionable tags. CB Deane Leonard (hamstring) is doubtful while C Corey Linsley (illness) and S JT Woods (illness) were ruled out.
Patriots at Cowboys
DT Christian Barmore (knee), DT Davon Godchaux (ankle), CB Jonathan Jones (ankle), G Cole Strange (knee), and CB Shaun Wade (shoulder) are questionable for the Patriots.
Cowboys G Zack Martin (ankle) and C Tyler Biadasz (hamstring) are questionable to play, but T Tyron Smith (knee) has been ruled out. TE Peyton Hendershot (ankle) is also questionable.
Cardinals at 49ers
DE Jonathan Ledbetter (finger) and LB Josh Woods (ankle) are out for the Cardinals. LB Krys Barnes (finger), WR Marquise Brown (thumb), RB Keaontay Ingram (neck), and T Paris Johnson (ankle) make up their questionable group.
WR Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) is set to play for the 49ers, but WR Deebo Samuel (rib, knee) is questionable and WR Jauan Jennings (knee) is doubtful. RB Elijah Mitchell (knee), LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (ankle), and LB Dre Greenlaw (ankle) are also in the questionable group.
Chiefs at Jets
If Taylor Swift and Aaron Rodgers are at Sunday night’s game, they won’t be seeing Chiefs LB Nick Bolton (ankle) or CB Jaylen Warren (shoulder).
The Jets ruled out S Tony Adams (hamstring) and G Wes Schweitzer (concussion).
The Texans will need to find a new fill-in for left tackle Laremy Tunsil for Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
Josh Jones moved over from left guard to fill in for Tunsil in the last two games, but he will not be available this weekend. Jones has been ruled out with a hand injury while Tunsil remains sidelined by a knee injury.
Austin Deculus is likely to be elevated from the practice squad to join George Fant at tackle. Fant has been starting because right tackle Tytus Howard is on injured reserve, so the Texans are in less than ideal condition to face T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and the rest of the Steelers front seven.
Linebacker Denzel Perryman (hand, wrist) and cornerback Tavierre Thomas (hand) have also been ruled out. Center Michael Dieter (concussion) is questionable.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is off to a strong start in his rookie season, leading Houston to a victory over the Jaguars last weekend.
The rookie will now face another tough test in the Steelers’ defense. His mindset in facing every opponent should help him against a team like Pittsburgh.
“We’re men, you know what I’m saying? We aren’t laying down for nobody, and I respect everybody,” Stroud said in his Wednesday press conference. “Like, if you made it to the NFL, that’s respect, and to play against a franchise that comes from winning — Mike Tomlin hasn’t had a losing season, which I have a ton of respect for that guy.
“I got to talk to him during my Pro Day. A great dude, a great man, a great man of God, but they would say the same thing about us if we were the best players in the world, too, where everybody is really good at their job — that’s why we’re in the NFL. But, you don’t tuck your tail for anybody, and you play with a confidence, but at the same time, you stay humble. Definitely, that’s my M.O., staying humble but having that swagger [and] that confidence of a killer mindset while staying humble.”
Stroud added that he thinks Hall of Famer and now Colorado head coach Deion Sanders embodies that principle well.
“[H]e’s always talking about building himself up, building our team up, because the world shoots us down [constantly], and if we’re always shooting ourselves in the foot, because — don’t get me wrong, we’re not perfect, and the other team watches film, they know that — but we all know we’re going to play hard for each other, and that’s all it takes to get a ‘W’ and to execute,” Stroud said. “So, just as important as it is to respect the other team, it’s just as important to respect yourself and know that you are one of the best to do it in the league, and I think as a team, we’re going to prove that every week and go out and play really hard.”
Through two games, Stroud has completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 906 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
C.J. Stroud won his first game as a starting quarterback last Sunday, but he’s been performing well in each of his first three games.
That’s why he’s been named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the month for September.
Stroud has completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 906 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions — good for a 98.0 passer rating. He’s also rushed for 35 yards.
The No. 2 overall pick of this year’s draft, Stroud’s career is off to a historic beginning. He is the first quarterback in league history to have at least 900 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and zero interceptions in his first three career starts. His 906 yards are the third most through three starts behind only Cam Newton (1,012) and Justin Herbert (931).
We’ll see if Stroud can continue his string of solid performances against the Steelers on Sunday.
The Steelers’ short week was made shorter by plane issues the team encountered on the way back from Las Vegas after Sunday Night Football. They lost seven hours by an emergency landing in Kansas City.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, though, has moved on and wants his players to do the same.
“I don’t want it to become an excuse,” Tomlin said multiple times Tuesday, his first media availability since then.
The Steelers stayed on the plane for three hours instead of deplaning while waiting for a replacement plane. That arrived after 10 a.m., five hours after the Steelers were scheduled to land.
The team finally arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport after noon ET on Monday, forcing Tomlin to scrap planned work that day. Players had their usual Tuesday off day.
Planes don’t have rearview mirrors, but coaches do.
“We are going to make it a non-issue, to be honest with you,” Tomlin said, via Mark Kaboly of TheAthletic.com. “It is in our rearview now. As I stand here today, it is a non-factor. We only have so many days and hours to prepare. We haven’t lost any physical preparation opportunities with our football team or classroom opportunities with our football team. I created a few hours yesterday and today that our staff had to absorb from a preparation standpoint. Technology was a component of that.”
The Steelers’ alternate Wednesday schedule crams two days of work into one. It is the same schedule the team used before the Week 3 game against the Raiders following a Monday night game in Week 2.
The Steelers travel to Houston this weekend.