Steelers' Pickens has 'real chance' to play Wed.

PITTSBURGH -- After missing the past 3 games, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has a "real chance" to play against the Kansas City Chiefs connected Wednesday, Mike Tomlin said Sunday.

Pickens, who sustained a hamstring wounded earlier a Week 14 crippled against the Cincinnati Bengals, is 1 of respective injured players who missed Saturday's nonaccomplishment astatine the Baltimore Ravens but could return for the Christmas Day game.

"Some guys that didn't play yesterday who person a existent chance this week: Justin Fields, DeShon Elliott, Donte Jackson, George Pickens and Larry Ogunjobi each person an opportunity to play this week," Tomlin said Sunday. "But again, we'll spot what the week leads america from their inclusion."

Tomlin besides admitted he didn't expect Pickens missing this overmuch clip erstwhile he first sustained the injury.

The Steelers person struggled to consistently move the shot successful the 3 games without their apical receiver. In that stretch, the Steelers are averaging 248.3 yards per game, down from their play mean of 324.9. And without Pickens stretching the field, defenses person loaded the container and suffocated the tally game. The Steelers, who person the 10th-best crushed onslaught successful the convention pinch 126 rushing yards per game, are averaging 97.7 rushing yards per crippled complete the past 3 weeks. Pickens' return could hole the ailing offense.

"He is simply a scatter playmaker," Tomlin said. "He's a one-on-one playmaker. Oftentimes he controls schematics which creates one-on-ones for others aliases a ray container regarding the run, but that's what talented extracurricular group do. Not only George, but anybody that has talented extracurricular group for illustration [Chiefs WR Xavier] Worthy will do immoderate of the aforesaid things to us."

Defensively, the Steelers person been without Ogunjobi and Elliott for 2 weeks, and Jackson near the Week 15 nonaccomplishment to the Eagles pinch a backmost injury.

And while the Steelers could beryllium getting a fistful of effect violative and protect players back, the readiness of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and wide receiver Ben Skowronek, who some exited the nonaccomplishment successful Baltimore early pinch injuries, is successful uncertainty for Wednesday's game.

"Their readiness remains questionable," Tomlin said of Porter Jr. and Skowronek. "I conscionable don't person a batch of caller accusation connected those guys fixed that we conscionable played past night, and we're still successful the process of assessing the authorities of immoderate of those things. But anybody that didn't make it retired of the stadium yesterday connected a four-day turnaround is astir apt going to person a difficult clip showing for this one."

Despite the banged up wide receiver corps, Tomlin was mum connected the team's imaginable liking successful erstwhile Steeler Diontae Johnson, who will beryllium disposable to declare connected waivers Monday aft his merchandise from the Ravens.

"I person thing to adhd astir personification that's not successful our shot squad correct now," Tomlin said."