George Pickens’ effort has become a problem in Dallas, and Brian Schottenheimer isn’t pretending otherwise.
After Week 6, the Cowboys coach was asked Thursday about how Pickens can get more involved, and he made it clear the issue goes beyond catching passes. Schottenheimer said, "He needs to understand that he impacts us in the running game as well. He’s got to do the same thing in the run game, picking up safeties and blocking corners, just like Javonte (Williams) does, picking up blitzes so he can catch balls.
“That’s part of the team-first mindset, and GP does understand that. When he’s going, they’re going to play soft inside.
When he’s not going, then the safeties get pretty good runs at our backs. And that’s got to improve.”
That kind of critique will sound familiar to Steelers fans, who spent years watching Pickens’ motor come and go in Pittsburgh. The Week 4 game against the Colts in Indianapolis during the 2024 season stands out immediately.
On a play that should have been a walk-in touchdown for Jaylen Warren, Pickens didn’t block his man at all, and Warren got stuffed near the goal line. Two snaps later, Pittsburgh had to go for it on fourth down.
The Steelers did score, but still dropped that game 24-27, with Pickens’ effort part of the story.
His ugliest moment in black and gold came in Week 18 of the 2024 season against the Bengals, when playoff seeding was on the line. Pickens had one catch on six targets for zero yards in a 17-19 loss, and he also drew an egregious taunting penalty that erased a 21-yard catch-and-run. The effort was poor, the sideline body language was worse, and that final regular-season game did plenty to define how Pittsburgh viewed him.
Now Dallas is seeing the same thing. In Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers, Pickens’ work without the ball wasn’t good enough, and Schottenheimer clearly noticed when the receiver wasn’t being targeted.
The impact isn’t limited to one route or one block, either. When Pickens eases up, it changes how defenses play the Cowboys and can drag down the whole offense.
And if the losing keeps piling up, the frustration figure to grow. If Pickens goes through long stretches without touches, the pouting can get loud.
Schottenheimer’s comments also raise the bigger question of how Dallas views Pickens long term, especially beyond the 2026 season. That uncertainty could also hit his chances of landing a big new deal.
For Steelers fans, though, this all feels painfully familiar. The Cowboys are now living with the same Pickens experience they knew too well in Pittsburgh.
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