Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver George Pickens has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his three seasons with the team, but he's also sparked plenty of drama and concern. Some view Pickens as a fiery competitor who is simply misunderstood, while others believe he's only content when he's involved early and making an impact. Critics have even accused him of giving poor effort and being a problematic teammate.
After the Steelers' home loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Pickens faced intense criticism. He was fined by the league for wearing eye black with a controversial message and for grabbing Cowboys' cornerback Jourdan Lewis by his face mask at the end of the game. Clips of Pickens not giving full effort during the game went viral, leading Head Coach Mike Tomlin to defend the wideout, claiming the team was load managing Pickens.
However, not everyone bought into Tomlin's explanation. Some speculated that there were deeper issues with Pickens that led to his reduced reps against the Cowboys. In the following game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Pickens had three catches for 53 yards. While it wasn't a standout performance, his attitude and effort seemed improved.
One odd moment came with five minutes left in the game when Justin Fields connected with Pickens on a 31-yard deep pass, even though there was no obvious reason to take such a shot. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, speaking on 93.7 The Fan, explained why this play suggests that the Steelers may be dealing with issues surrounding Pickens behind the scenes.
"You're admitting that there's some sort of issue right there," Kaboly said. "I mean, if you didn't believe the load management bull crap, you should believe this, 'cause they're throwing the ball to a guy with four and a half minutes left down the field. Now, is that an Arthur Smith call? Or is that a Justin Fields, we're getting you into this, I'm throwing it to you regardless?"
Kaboly admitted he wasn’t sure if it was Fields deciding to involve Pickens no matter what, or if it was a directive from Tomlin or Arthur Smith. Either way, it seemed unusual for the Steelers—who rarely take unnecessary risks—to throw a deep pass to Pickens in that situation.
Shortly after, they targeted him again in the red zone, seemingly trying to get him a touchdown. Pickens dropped the pass, and although he didn’t score, the whole sequence gave the impression that the Steelers were trying to keep him happy.
Kaboly believes this points to a larger issue with Pickens. He suggests that the Steelers recognized Pickens hadn't been heavily involved and felt the need to get him touches late in the game to satisfy him.
Whether that’s true remains unclear, but the Steelers might have simply been trying to get their top offensive weapon more involved to seal the game. However, many Steelers fans noticed and felt like Pickens was being given a few extra chances late in the game, raising questions about the team's approach.
Steelers' George Pickens Has Positive Outing Against Las Vegas
Pickens has proven to be a talented wide receiver, producing solid numbers despite playing in a flawed offensive system and dealing with inconsistent quarterback play. Many understand his frustrations but do wish he would manage them better.
Now that he’s developed better chemistry with Fields, there's optimism, but concerns remain about his leadership and ability to be a positive teammate. His improved attitude during the Raiders game was a step in the right direction, and the Steelers will be hoping that continues throughout the rest of the 2024 season.
