Getty Image / Michael Owens
Concussions have been an ongoing problem for the NFL for years now and there hasn’t been a clear-cut way for the league to fix the issue yet.
Even so, the NFL and NFLPA have been working together to resolve the problem.
One way to do that is by finding helmet designs that help reduce the chances of someone sustaining a concussion.
Well, as it turns out, Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Kenny Pickett is one of just a handful of quarterbacks trying out a new helmet design to battle the issue.
According to The Athletic, Pickett has switched to using a helmet that is specifically designed for quarterbacks and it’s supposed to help reduce the chances of receiving a concussion.
Helmet Stalker reports the name of this unique helmet is the Vicis Zero2.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett is using a VICIS ZERO2 with an SO-212 facemask and a SportStar Victory XD chinstrap; he used a Riddell Axiom with an AXIOM-2B-SW-Ti facemask, clear visor and a Riddell hardcup chinstrap and a Riddell SpeedFlex Precision with an SF-2BD-SW facemask in 2022 pic.twitter.com/NWkivmPAFf
— Helmet Stalker (@HelmetStalker) May 24, 2023
From the sounds of it, Kenny Pickett found the helmet at his locker during this offseason and thought he might as well try it out, per The Athletic.
“I showed up and it was in my locker. I told them, ‘Yes, I will try it. Throw it in there.'”
It makes sense for Pickett to give the Vicis Zero2 a shot, as he suffered two concussions during his rookie campaign. He missed valuable time under center recovering from both injuries, resulting in missing nearly three contests.
But the hope is that this new helmet can help Kenny Pickett remain safe while on the field.
The Athletic also reports that the Steelers’ quarterback is not the only one trying out this new helmet. From the sounds of it, more and more quarterbacks across the league are jumping on board with this helmet design.
” Patrick Mahomes, who has worn a Vicis helmet since he became a full-time starter in 2018, and Russell Wilson, who has worn Vicis since the company’s first model debuted in 2017, are already wearing the Zero2 QB. Others like Tua Tagovailoa — who, like Pickett, suffered multiple concussions last season — Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr and Anthony Richardson have also worn it this offseason.”
Hopefully, the helmet lives up to expectations. If the number of concussions can go down, then that will only benefit the sport of football.
With that said, if it works well enough, perhaps the Vicis Zero2 can become the standard helmet across the league.