Whenever adversity strikes the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver George Pickens often finds himself at the center of the chaos.
After the team’s first multi-game losing streak this season, sparked by a loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Pickens’ penalties and lapses in competitive toughness forced head coach Mike Tomlin to address tough questions in his postgame press conference.
Pickens’ behavior was scrutinized again after Pittsburgh’s five-game winning streak ended against the Cleveland Browns. Notably, Pickens took himself out of the game’s final play to confront an opposing defender.
When the Steelers’ next losing streak began, it was without Pickens, whose undeniable talent makes him an invaluable part of the offense, especially with Russell Wilson under center. In his absence, Pittsburgh suffered losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens.
Pickens returned for the Christmas Day matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, offering hope that his presence could help break the late-season slump with his signature big plays. However, the Steelers fell 29-10 at home, marking their third consecutive loss and putting a dent in their AFC North title hopes.
Once again, Pickens was at the center of controversy.
After the game, defensive tackle Cam Heyward emphasized the importance of every player executing their role, noting that one missed assignment can derail the team. Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens echoed this sentiment but pointed the blame at Pickens on offense.
“Same on offense as well, when you got #14 not running his routes, causing INTs,” Owens said, referencing a costly play where Chiefs safety Justin Reid intercepted Wilson in the end zone.
On the play, Reid initially lined up as the deep safety over Pickens. However, Pickens’ lackluster route quickly took him out of the equation, allowing Reid to shift to the middle of the end zone and cut off tight end Pat Freiermuth’s leverage. The interception halted a drive that could have reduced Kansas City’s 13-0 lead, leaving Pittsburgh down multiple possessions against the league’s best team.
While Pickens offers immense value as a boundary threat and at the catch point, questions about his football character persist. Tomlin’s earlier comments about the need for maturity have only grown more relevant, as Pickens is becoming one of the Steelers’ most concerning story lines this season.
