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Tensions Boiling Over Between Steelers, George Pickens?

The Pittsburgh Steelers and their star wide receiver seem to be in a bad place.

Noah Strackbein

Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) runs to score a touchdown on a pass reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) runs to score a touchdown on a pass reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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PITTSBURGH -- Is there trouble brewing in paradise? The Pittsburgh Steelers started the season with a new outlook on offense, and a new WR1 leading the way in George Pickens. But just give games in, things might be starting to boil over between the team and their star wideout.

In what is becoming a trend, Pickens was out-snapped by Van Jefferson, and against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, he was out-snapped by both Jefferson and Calvin Austin.

Even during crucial parts of the game, the Steelers don't seem to have Pickens in the game plan. The star wide receiver was on the sideline for most of the team's final touchdown drive, which included a critical second down catch by Brandon Johnson, who was called up from the practice squad for the game. Pickens was on the sideline during the play.

According to head coach Mike Tomlin, Pickens is on a management situation, with the team looking to keep his snap count lower to protect him deeper into the season. In just his third NFL season, the team is trying to say they're keeping a 23-year-old from getting too beat up during the course of a season.

"We just wanted to minimize his reps in an effort to get more productivity," Tomlin said. "We’re just trying to rep manage in terms of the totality of the big picture. He wasn’t less of a focal point in terms of our intentions of what we wanted to do offensively."

"No underlying story," he added. Take that to heart if you will.

Then, there's Pickens's side of things. The wideout spent a large chunk of the second half sitting by himself on the sideline. For one drive, he sat alone, with no one coming over to him, for an entire eight-minute and 32-second drive.

And the on field antics have started.

Who knows if the losing is just building up and Pickens is having a tough time with it. But this seems to be a trend that continues year after year. At some point during the season, the wideout doesn't like how the offense is flowing, and he lashes out. Last year, it happened multiple times, including sideline altercations and social media interactions.

This year, maybe it's starting early. Why? Who knows. Pickens is coming off a 100-yard game in Indianapolis, that would've included a touchdown and more if he didn't drop an easy catch and fumble the ball. This week, he yet again let an easy pass slip through his hands.

It's a mystery what's going on where we sit currently. The Steelers are 3-2 and looking at the wrong end of a losing streak. In the midst of it, there are worries growing about their wide receiver.

Those worries can go away with a solid performance in Week 6 and no distractions from Pickens. But history tells us this could turn into something bigger. Tensions may be boiling over between the Steelers and their new WR1.

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Noah Strackbein
NOAH STRACKBEIN

Noah is the Publisher for All Steelers, Inside the Panthers (InsideThePanthers.com) and Inside the Penguins (InsidethePenguins.com), and is the host of All Steelers Talk (YouTube.com/AllSteelersTalk). A Scranton native, Noah made his way to the Pittsburgh sports scene in 2017. Now, he's pretty much full-yinzer.

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