George Pickens' Quiet Night in Detroit Raises Eyebrows, But It's Not Time to Panic
George Pickens has been one of the most dynamic stories of the Cowboys’ 2025 season. After a rocky tenure in Pittsburgh, the talented wideout seemed to turn the page in Dallas-bringing not just highlight-reel plays and consistent production, but also a renewed sense of focus and maturity. Through 11 games, Pickens looked like a player who had finally put the past behind him.
But Thursday night in Detroit told a different story.
In a 44-30 loss to the Lions, Pickens didn’t just have a quiet game statistically-five catches for 37 yards-he also drew attention for what wasn’t on the stat sheet: body language, effort, and engagement. And in a prime-time matchup that could have been a statement game for Dallas, those things mattered.
Let’s be clear-this isn’t about overreacting to one off night. Pickens has been a major reason why the Cowboys offense has looked so explosive for much of the year.
He’s earned praise, and rightfully so. But when the spotlight was brightest, and when the Cowboys needed him most-especially after CeeDee Lamb left the game with a concussion-Pickens didn’t rise to the moment.
And that’s what’s fueling the conversation now.
There were multiple instances where Pickens appeared to be running routes at less than full speed. The burst and urgency that have defined his resurgence this season?
Hard to find on Thursday night. It wasn’t just that he didn’t produce-it was how he looked while doing it.
If you’re a receiver of his caliber, on a team fighting for playoff positioning, that’s going to raise questions.
And while the Cowboys’ offense kept pushing-Dak Prescott threw for over 300 yards-it was Ryan Flournoy, not Pickens, who stepped into the void left by Lamb. Flournoy finished with nine catches, 115 yards, and a touchdown, becoming Prescott’s go-to target down the stretch.
That’s not a knock on Flournoy-he was fantastic. But it does beg the question: where was Pickens?
The criticism came fast and loud. Analyst Warren Sharp tweeted, “the Steelers version of Pickens has arrived.”
Richard Sherman, speaking on Prime Video’s broadcast, didn’t mince words: “He just looked uninterested. Uninterested in playing football.
That’s what you can’t have. If you’re going to be a superstar, if you want to be the best receiver in the National Football League, you can’t ever be disengaged.”
Even Kirk Herbstreit, calling the game live, noted Pickens’ lack of effort on multiple occasions, a point echoed by local radio voices like 105.3 The Fan’s Shan Shariff.
Again, this was Pickens’ first real dud of the season. But the timing couldn’t have been worse.
With playoff seeding on the line and Lamb sidelined, this was the moment for Pickens to step up and show he could be the guy. Instead, the tape tells a different story-one that’s reopened old conversations about his consistency, focus, and maturity.
The Cowboys still believe in George Pickens. They’ve invested heavily in him-not just in terms of a trade, but likely with a franchise tag looming in 2026 worth $28 million.
And over the course of this season, he’s shown why that belief is justified. But games like Thursday night are why the questions never fully go away.
One game doesn’t define a player. But in the NFL, the biggest games tend to reveal the most. And right now, George Pickens has some work to do to prove that Thursday night was just a blip-not a regression.