George Pickens’ Effort Questioned After Cowboys’ Loss to Lions, Sparks Heated Exchange with Richard Sherman
The Dallas Cowboys’ 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday night wasn’t just a tough one in the standings - it’s now become a flashpoint for a heated debate about effort, accountability, and what it means to be a star in the NFL.
At the center of it all is wide receiver George Pickens, who finished the game with five catches for 37 yards - a stat line that doesn’t jump off the page, especially for a player with his talent. But it wasn’t just the numbers that drew criticism - it was how he looked doing it.
Former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman didn’t hold back during Amazon’s postgame coverage, calling out Pickens for what he saw as a disengaged performance, particularly in the second half.
“George Pickens, throughout the game - especially late - just looked uninterested in playing football,” Sherman said. “If you want to be the best receiver in the NFL, you can never be disengaged.
It doesn’t matter if the game’s going your way or not. You can’t just disappear.”
Sherman didn’t stop there. He pointed to a specific play - a deep shot from Dak Prescott late in the game - where Pickens didn’t even attempt to make a play on the ball. The clip quickly made the rounds online, with fans and analysts alike questioning the receiver’s effort in a critical moment.
“You’re the guy. CeeDee Lamb is out.
And you get intercepted on your slant routes. You can’t be the guy and half-step it.
That’s just unacceptable,” Sherman added.
The criticism clearly got back to Pickens, who fired back on social media Friday in a now-deleted Instagram story. His response was fiery and unfiltered, pushing back against the idea that he alone should shoulder the blame for the Cowboys’ offensive struggles.
“This is a team game,” Pickens wrote. “I’m not the only one on the team.
Stop talking about one player when he’s playing a team game. Lots of things have to go right for explosive plays.”
Pickens went on to take a personal shot at Sherman, referencing his career and time in San Francisco, and questioning his credibility as a former player turned analyst.
Sherman, never one to shy away from a back-and-forth, responded on X (formerly Twitter) with a dismissive jab of his own:
“Lol kid hasn’t done enough to merit a response from me. I was working on my 3rd consecutive 1st team All-Pro and 2nd SB appearance at the same point in my career. I made an All-Pro team and SB in SF - but that’s the fall off for me.”
It’s a classic case of generational tension - a young, rising player clapping back at a decorated veteran who’s now in the media. But beyond the social media fireworks, the real question is what this means for Pickens and the Cowboys moving forward.
Despite the off-field noise, Pickens has posted career-best numbers this season in Dallas. He’s shown flashes of being a true No. 1 receiver, especially with CeeDee Lamb missing time. But Thursday’s performance - and the perception of a lack of effort - opens the door to questions about consistency, focus, and leadership.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, for his part, defended his receiver when asked about the situation on 105.3 The Fan.
“He didn’t have the game he’s been having,” Jones said. “But effort? I would be very careful with going there.”
It’s worth noting that Jones has always been quick to back his players publicly, especially when things get heated in the media. But as the Cowboys push toward the postseason, they’ll need more than just public support - they’ll need every player locked in, especially their top playmakers.
For Pickens, this moment could be a turning point. Every great receiver in the NFL has faced criticism at some point - it comes with the territory. The question now is how he responds, not on Instagram, but on the field.