There’s no doubt that Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-year receiver George Pickens has the talent to be one of the NFL’s finest playmakers. From route-running to impeccable ball skills and competitiveness, Pickens can do it all. But he seemingly still has to mature and put it all together before he truly enters that conversation.
This appears to be a reality Mike Tomlin understands all too well.
Amidst a Thursday night performance where Pickens caught just five passes for 19 yards, he found it challenging to hide his frustrations with the struggling Pittsburgh offense. (Note: The Steelers had just 43 yards of total offense roughly halfway through the second quarter.)
It started manifesting with some apparent poor effort and childish antics on the field.
George Pickens is going through it.pic.twitter.com/Wgkr2FPohg
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 8, 2023
This lack of effort from George Pickens is never a good sign. pic.twitter.com/x6IhoGDwo6
— Jake Gould (@jakegould10) December 8, 2023
After seeing how his receiver responded to some adverse circumstances, Thursday Night Football cameras appeared to show Tomlin giving Pickens a measured earful about his approach to the game.
Hmm. What was going on here?
Tomlin and Pickens on the sideline. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/vpVPpLy2iP
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) December 8, 2023
With a 21-18 loss, the Steelers have now fallen out of the AFC playoff picture. If they’re to play meaningful football this January, they will need all hands on deck. That includes Pickens, and Tomlin knows it. We’ll see how this situation continues to develop between one of the NFL’s most respected coaches and a dynamite playmaker learning the ropes.
