Though Mike Tomlin tried to keep things under wraps during the week, the Steelers made the switch from quarterback Justin Fields to Russell Wilson. This came just in time for Pittsburgh's Sunday Night Football showdown against the New York Jets. Fans were skeptical of the decision, but one player you won't hear complaining is George Pickens.
When Pickens spoke to the media this week, he had nothing but kind words to say about both Wilson and Fields but refused to pick between the two when asked who he prefers playing with. We know how he really feels.
In Weeks 5 and 6, Pickens combined for six catches on 15 targets for a mere 79 yards. This equates to a catch rate of 40 percent while averaging a dismal 5.2 yards per target. Additionally, Pickens failed to score a touchdown during this span while his effort and attitude were questioned by the media.
Fast forward to Week 7, and Pickens had his best performance of the season.
The talented wide receiver saw nine targets and reeled in 111 receiving yards and a touchdown. While Wilson's ball placement wasn't perfect against the Jets, Pickens made several explosive plays and capped off his impressive game with a score on a fade route with a beautiful touch pass from Wilson.
George Pickens could see a huge uptick in production with Russell Wilson
In the first six games of the season with Justin Fields at the helm, Pickens had just two performances of over 57 receiving yards and only one 100-yard game. The third-year receiver was on pace for a worse statistical season than the breakout campaign he saw in year two. Wilson could not only salvage this; he could turn it around completely.
Though the sample size is still very small, Pickens flourished in his first game with his new quarterback, and this connection should only grow stronger in time. What makes this a perfect match is the moonballs Wilson lives to throw down the sideline. Pickens has fantastic body control and the ability to rise up over defensive backs to make big plays down the field.
We need to see if this strong connection between the Steelers' starting quarterback and the top wide receiver continues, but there's no reason to suggest it won't. If the chemistry between Wilson and Pickens can improve from here, this could be a lethal combination by the end of the season.