NFL Rumors: George Pickens Ripped by Steelers Player for Jogging on ‘Perfect Ball’

Steelers’ Offense Frustrated with George Pickens’ Lack of Effort on Key Play vs. Cowboys

Tensions are rising within the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense after a key moment in Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, where wide receiver George Pickens appeared to jog on a deep pass from quarterback Justin Fields. The play, which could have shifted the game, has drawn sharp criticism from Pickens’ teammates.

According to DK Pittsburgh’s Dejan Kovacevic, one veteran player expressed frustration, calling Fields’ throw “a perfect ball,” and noting that it was placed exactly where Pickens should have been “had he bothered running.” The anonymous veteran went on to share a series of harsh words about Pickens’ effort on the play.

Pickens’ season has been underwhelming so far, with just 310 receiving yards and zero touchdowns through five games. His struggles were particularly evident in the 20-17 loss to Dallas, where he recorded a season-low 26 yards on three receptions. These numbers stand in stark contrast to his promising sophomore campaign, where he posted 1,140 receiving yards and five touchdowns, raising expectations for a breakout third year.

Kovacevic highlighted a noticeable reduction in Pickens’ snaps during Sunday’s game. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin each played over 44 snaps, while Pickens saw the field for just 34 of the 58 offensive plays. It’s unclear if his decreased playing time was directly related to his effort on the aforementioned play, though head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed that possibility.

“We just wanted to minimize his reps to try and get more productivity,” Tomlin said. “He wasn’t less of a focal point in terms of our game plan, but we did want to cut his reps a bit to see if we could get higher quality play.”

However, that strategy didn’t pay off, as Pittsburgh’s offense continued to struggle in its second consecutive loss. The Steelers, who started the season 3-0, now face a crucial Week 6 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, and getting more out of Pickens will be essential to getting their season back on track.

With the offense searching for answers and frustration mounting, all eyes will be on Pickens to see if he can rebound and deliver the performance many expected from him this season.