Kenny Pickett embracing new technology to avoid concussions

Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is trying something new in 2023 after suffering a pair of concussions during his rookie season. According to The Athletic, Pickett will wear a new quarterback-specific helmet this upcoming season that is designed to lessen the risk for head injuries.

The helmet in question, named VICIS Zero2 Matrix QB, reportedly performed 7% better when tested against the most popular helmet quarterbacks used in 2022. It features a softer outside shell compared to some of the commonly used helmets, designed to give more protection to the back of the head.

Pickett arrived last month to find the new headgear sitting in his locker and was immediately on board despite not being required to make the switch.

“I showed up and it was in my locker,” Pickett said. “I told them, ‘Yes, I will try it. Throw it in there.’”

The NFL and NFLPA approved the helmet this spring following a season that saw a big uptick in the number of concussions across the league. Concussions rose nearly 18% in 2022, with 60% of that increase coming from quarterbacks and special teams.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa most notably suffered a concussion in Week 4 that caused him to be hospitalized. The NFL later launched an investigation into the team’s handling of Tagovailoa’s injury prior to that game and ultimately adjusted their concussion protocol as a result. Tagovailoa suffered another concussion in Week 15 against the Packers and was shut down for the rest of the season, missing Miami’s Wild Card playoff game.

As for Kenny Pickett, he suffered two concussions in less than two months last season that caused him to miss two games. Both of the injuries occurred in a similar fashion with Pickett’s head slamming against the turf. That is exactly what the VICIS Zero2 Matrix QB is designed to protect against.

Pickett is one of several players who plan to try out the new helmet this season, along with Tagovailoa, Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson. It will be the third helmet he has worn in his brief pro career, but that’s not an issue to him if it can increase safety.

“I trust our guys to put the best helmets in there,” Pickett said. “And if it’s comfortable, it’s fine with me.”

Pickett seemed to find his groove over the back half of last season, leading Pittsburgh to a 5-0 record in his final five games. He ended the year with 2,404 yards passing, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The Steelers are hopeful Pickett can be their franchise quarterback for the future, and that means doing whatever it takes to keep him healthy. With the new helmet he will wear this season, they’re taking the right steps.