NBC broadcast cameras caught Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens taking his frustrations out on a Dallas Cowboys player after the game ended early Monday morning at Acrisure Stadium.
The Steelers dropped their second consecutive game in a 20-17 loss to the Cowboys. It was a long night for both teams, as a weather delay kept the opening kickoff from starting until 9:45 p.m. ET.
Pickens wore eye black for the game with a risqué message for starting quarterback Justin Fields and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith that the former Georgia standout is always open.
Pickens played limited snaps against the Cowboys. Per Jon Ledyard with Pro Football Focus, the No. 52 pick in the 2022 draft played in 34 of the Steelers’ 58 offensive snaps, the third most of any Pittsburgh wide receiver. Van Jefferson (47) and Calvin Austin (44) saw significantly more playing time.
Following the game, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said the team limited Pickens’ use against the Cowboys because of “rep management” for the “big picture” in Pittsburgh.
“(Pickens) wasn’t less of a focal point in terms of our intentions of what we wanted to do offensively, but we did want to cut his reps a little bit in order to get higher quality play,” Tomlin said.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens.
Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
The final result on offense wasn’t great against the Cowboys. The team scored 17 points at home. Pickens was annoyed after the final play of the game when Dallas’ cornerback Jourdan Lewis appeared to taunt the third year receiver after the play.
Pickens grabbed Lewis’ facemask with enough strength that the veteran defensive back fell to the grass.
Officials saw the infraction by Pickens and immediately intervened to break up any potential fight. Pickens could be subject to a fine from the league for unsportsmanlike conduct for the action.
It’s unclear what Lewis said to Pickens before the receiver grabbed his facemask. But there were a few reasons Pickens might have been emotional after the game.
The limited snaps curbed Pickens’ targets. The 23-year-old pass catcher caught just three passes on seven targets for 26 yards against the Cowboys.
Pickens is off to a slow start this season. Entering Sunday night’s game, Pickens had 20 receptions for 284 yards and no touchdowns.
In training camp, Pickens was assumed to be the Steelers No. 1 receiver after the team traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in the offseason.
Pickens will have anther opportunity to score his first touchdown of the season when the Steelers travel to play the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.
