The Philadelphia Eagles will put their win streak on the line when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Lincoln Financial Field in Week 15.
Even though the Eagles are currently on a nine-game heater, the Steelers shouldn't be underestimated. Mike Tomlin's team is a respectable 7-1 since Week 6 and isn't showing any signs of slowing down following last week's 27-14 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Overcoming the Steelers won't be easy come Sunday, however, the Eagles' upcoming challenge just became a lot easier following the latest injury news coming out of Pittsburgh.
On Tuesday afternoon, Tomlin told reporters that standout wideout George Pickens is "doubtful" ahead of Sunday's showdown with the Eagles, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Even though there's a "small chance" the veteran receiver could suit up, that appears to be a long shot at this point.
According to Pryor, Pickens' hamstring injury is "more significant than initially thought."
Tomlin says Pickens is "doubtful" vs. Eagles, but there's a small chance he could play.
Says George Pickens had an MRI and the hamstring injury showed up, appears to be more significant than initially thought.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 10, 2024
It isn't surprising that the Eagles' outlook is much more positive if Pickens can't play this weekend.
The 23-year-old playmaker has been the Steelers' best receiver since being drafted 52nd overall in 2022. The former Georgia Bulldog has since racked up 170 receptions for 2,791 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 46 games and was averaging a career-high 70.8 yards per game this season.
Outside of Pickens, the Steelers have struggled to get production from their WR room. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin are the next wideouts on the depth chart, however, neither man has even hit the 400-yard mark this year. Veteran wideout Mike Williams has only been targeted five times in as many games since being acquired from the New York Jets before the trade deadline.
Without Pickens' presence, the Steelers will have a hard time finding aerial success against the Eagles, who allow the fewest yards per completion and second-fewest passing yards per game. That's without mentioning how Philly has held seven of its last nine opponents to fewer than 200 yards through the air.
With Pickens unlikely to play, the Eagles are currently projected as the 5.5-point home favorites over the Steelers in Week 15, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
In other Eagles news: