Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has gotten off to a strong start with his new team. With CeeDee Lamb there to provide extra openings, Pickens has been able to provide Dallas with the big plays he once made for the Black and Gold.
Unfortunately for Dallas, their one-two punch at wide receiver took a hit this week. Lamb suffered a high ankle sprain in Dallas’s Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears. Now, Lamb is on the injured reserve list and will be out of action for a minimum of four weeks.
As a result, Pickens becomes the Cowboys’ de facto WR1 for the next month at minimum, and Steelers fans know all too well how that works for an offense.
George Pickens’ WR1 spotlight in Dallas gives Pittsburgh Steelers fans a reason to keep watching
The Cowboys got the full Pickens experience in Chicago. He caught a one-handed touchdown pass that flashed his unbridled potential. He also dropped a pass that he inadvertently tipped to a Bears defender, resulting in an interception. That led to one of his patented crash-outs on the sideline.
Steelers fans will be the first to warn Cowboys fans that they should only expect more of the same with him as the top receiver.
Over the past two seasons as Pittsburgh’s top receiver, Pickens struggled to play to the mark of a true WR1 consistently. He made plenty of big plays, yes, but he was far from reliable from one play to the next.
The statistical consistency that Pickens has displayed with Dallas goes out the window without Lamb there to draw attention away. Sure, the Cowboys also have reliable threats like Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert to lean on, but neither brings the same threat level as Pickens. And, to that point, when defenses key in on him, Pickens hasn’t shown that he’s quite at the level that he can overcome it.
READ MORE: Colts turn to ex-Steelers DB after key injury shakes up secondary
That said, the Cowboys’ next four games should be an opportunity for Pickens to reverse the negative narrative that seems to follow him. The Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Washington Commanders all provide an opportunity for him to shine. Of course, this week, the Cowboys host the Green Bay Packers, and while their secondary isn’t the strongest, it plays above expectations. Oh, and Micah Parsons is going to be hunting Dak Prescott mercilessly.
Nonetheless, Pickens does have a serious opportunity to prove that his growth in Dallas is real and that he is closer to being a true WR1 than he displayed in Pittsburgh. Maybe if he seizes that opportunity, he’ll finally turn the corner from promising young player with baggage to justified diva star wideout.