Critics question George Pickens' intensity and effort during a crucial Cowboys loss, with some seeing a return of his past controversial playing style.
We have all lauded Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens this season, as No. 3 has spent 2025 putting behind him the negative baggage from his days in Pittsburgh - the very reason the Steelers traded him here in the first place - to become one of the best receivers in football.
The numbers have been there. So have the thrills. And the effort. And the smiles.
But against the Detroit Lions in a 44-30 loss on "Thursday Night Football,'' Pickens looked at times like he might have slipped back into his previous and controversial ways.
We're not going to overreact to a weirdly-timed poor showing. We're not backing off our report that he's matured, that he's worthy of All-Pro recognition or that Dallas is planning on keeping him around for 2026 at the very least via the $28 million franchise tag.
But with that said...
Pickens had just five catches for 37 yards. But is wasn't just his stats that were bothersome.
It was the aesthetics.
Several times as a route-runner, Pickens looked as if he was going at half-speed, and didn't have his usual burst and urgency ... almost as if - to a harsh critic, anway - he didn't care about staying plugged in into a game that for most of the night seemed like a lost cause.
Now, one bad game out of 12 doesn't make a player.
But when Dallas needed him most - and that was when after brilliant start for CeeDee Lamb (six catches and 121 yards) No. 88 exited with a concussion - Pickens was nowhere to be found.
It is worth noting that Ryan Flournoy was the guy who stepped up in Lamb's absence.
"Flo" would have a huge game, catching nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown with Dak Prescott looking his way far more often than he did George's. Make of that what you will.
But back to Pickens ...
Fans and media members are coming after George with sharpened pitchforks after what he put out on tape in Detroit.
Analyst Warren Sharp tweeted that “the Steelers version of Pickens has arrived.''
Richard Sherman, the former DB now an analyst for Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football coverage, said on TV that Pickens "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. It doesn’t matter if the game’s going your way or not going your way.”
And 105.3 The Fan's Shan Shariff noted that TV game analyst Kirk "Herbstreit has called out Pickens effort multiple times tonight.''
This marks Pickens first "bad" game of the year ... but it just happened to be in the biggest spot of the season. And with big spots, big trades and big money come big criticisms ... especially when a guy is running his routes as if he's still lugging around that old baggage.