Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has come to the defense of wide receiver George Pickens, who played a career-low 34 snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Despite appearing to run some routes at less than full speed, Tomlin insists he has no issue with Pickens’ effort, attributing the reduced playing time to a “snap management” strategy aimed at optimizing productivity over the course of a 17-game season.
Tomlin explained that Pickens, who caught three passes for 26 yards on seven targets, is being managed similarly to defensive lineman Cam Heyward, who played 72% of defensive snaps. The coach emphasized that players with specialized skill sets, like receivers, often don’t play every down, as they’re needed in critical moments later in the season.
Pickens’ usage has varied throughout the season, with his previous career-low being 63% of offensive snaps in a 2022 win against the Cleveland Browns. Tomlin acknowledged that Pickens’ effort can be part of the “load management discussion,” but refused to elaborate on specific instances where the receiver may not have been giving his all.
Off the field, Pickens drew attention for wearing eye black with an expletive message and getting into a post-game altercation with Cowboys defender Jourdan Lewis. While Tomlin said he hadn’t seen the message, he addressed Pickens’ behavior privately, emphasizing the importance of growth and development as a player and individual.
Pickens’ tenure with the Steelers has been marked by flashes of brilliance, as well as moments of controversy and questioned effort. Tomlin believes the receiver has made progress in handling adversity, but acknowledges that Sunday’s incidents fell short of expectations. Despite this, the coach remains confident in Pickens’ growth over the past two-and-a-half years.
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