Cameras Catch Steelers' George Pickens Sending Message to Critics After Scoring Touchdown

The Pittsburgh receiver said everything without saying a word into the camera.
Cameras Catch Steelers' George Pickens Sending Message to Critics After Scoring Touchdown
Cameras Catch Steelers' George Pickens Sending Message to Critics After Scoring Touchdown /

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had the last laugh. 

Pickens heard criticism from seemingly every corner this week leading up to the Steelers' Week 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night. 

The young Pittsburgh wideout raised eyebrows for his decision to not block a defender during a running play in the red zone in the Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Pickens made it worse when he explained to the media that he didn't block on the play to avoid injury. 

But the Steelers receiver quickly silenced any critics during the game against Cincinnati on Saturday, as he took a screen pass 86 yards to the house in the first quarter, then burnt the Bengals defense for a 66-yard touchdown reception in the third.

After his second touchdown, cameras caught Pickens sending his critics a clear message without uttering any words. 

Pickens mimicked a person talking with his hand, then covered his ears. It was the perfect response from Pickens, who torched the Bengals defense for 195 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions in Pittsburgh’s 34–11 win.


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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.