Cowboys Gameday: George Pickens Problem As WR Joins Joey Porter Among Inactives

Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens has been at the center of media talk this week as his usage hasn't been what many were expecting.

Just two receptions in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals and only four in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pickens didn't have a single catch in the first half against Arizona and was only targeted once, while CeeDee Lamb (five), Tyler Goodson (two), and Ryan Flournoy (two) all had more than George.

When you have a weapon like Pickens, who can change a game in a matter of minutes, it is rather baffling to see him hardly used.

And now another problem, as Pickens is inactive for this Week 9 game at the Colts ... as are Joey Porter Jr. and DeMarvion Overshown.

Oh-oh.

READ MORE:  Cowboys Sign New Running Back, Release Lengthy Injury Update

Going into the weekend, the talk inside The Star was how to get Pickens the ball.

Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams explained, oftentimes, it is more than one thing as the reason for Pickens not getting targets.

“Anytime you're struggling, the answer is always more than one thing,” Adams said. “You call something to get it to him and the ball doesn't go there for reason X or reason Y. You call something else and the ball doesn't end up there for reason X or reason Y. And they're not even always the same reasons. I think a little bit of it unlucky, a little bit of it we got to design stuff that forces the issue to him.

“Then sometimes when we do, we got to make more happen with it than just an incompletion or a three or four-yard gain. The goal is to score a touchdown regardless of who you're getting the ball to, but he's definitely somebody that we would love to get the ball to and get going early.”

So now that is Jerry Jones, Brian Schottenheimer, and Adams, who have all stated this week their desire to get George rolling early.

But there are now other things that have Cowboys fans scratching their heads.

In the past two weeks, Ryan Flournoy has had more snaps than Pickens. Yeah, you read that right.

READ MORE:  CeeDee Lamb Closing In On NFL Record As Cowboys Face Colts

That has led owner Jerry Jones to publicly announce that "GP'' needs more targets.

And it has let to some thinking that maybe there might be something nefarious going on, given Pickens' contract situation and the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching. ... with more conspiracy theories growing now that he's sitting out this game.

But Adams revealed the real reason for George's lack of snaps compared to Flo's.

"There's been a couple of weeks now where George has been banged up, and we've limited him in some capacities because of that," Adams added. "He's been limited some on the practice field. He's been limited some in the game as well.

"That's from my understanding and which I think is correct is that's the reason, that's been the case, not anything else."

So, George is hurt? Really hurt?

Time to see if, after all of this talking from the 3-5 Cowboys, anything changes at the 2-6 Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in a noon CT start ... in which Pickens will be an observer.