The Pittsburgh Steelers might have a problem with their No. 1 wide receiver, George Pickens, who seems unhappy with the team.
Pickens wrote: “Open [expletive] Always” on his black eye Sunday night, which may indicate he’s not happy with the number of targets he’s getting. He probably wasn’t happy to finish either third in snaps and routes running among the Steelers wide receivers.
But that wasn’t the only problem. Pickens also didn’t appear to be putting in his full effort when running routes Sunday night, which was pointed out by those who watched tape after Pittsburgh’s 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
George Pickens ran routes last night
what do you notice? pic.twitter.com/viBVOL2I7K
– Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 7, 2024
It would have been nice to hear from Pickens after the game, but the former 2022 second-round pick refused to speak to the media. Then, on Monday, he hid in the equipment room to once again avoid speaking to reporters.
After the game, Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth might have taken a not-so-subtle jab at the disgruntled receiver, saying he trusted the coaches, would continue to do the little things and would would not complain about targets in the process.
“I trust the coaching staff and what they’re doing,” he said. Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Everyone can moan and complain about the lack of targets, but that’s what you do without the ball. That’s what leaders do. That’s what good teammates do. I block my a- – at any rate.”
Again, we can’t say for sure if this is a chance against Pickens, but that seems to be the case with everything going on.
After two straight losses to fall to 3-2, the Steelers have gone from positive vibes to negative vibes and things are quickly going in the wrong direction.
Pittsburgh has a decision to make with Pickens moving forward. He’s not happy in Pittsburgh, it seems, and the Steelers are facing a situation where they will have to decide whether or not to extend him next year. And if they choose not to, it could lead to a stalemate with Pickens.
