The Dallas Cowboys have gotten stellar production from George Pickens this season. However, as good a player as he is, he also arrived in Arlington with major red flags and concerns about his character.
That’s why some fans and analysts were ready to sound the alarms after watching him haul in just five of nine targets for 37 receiving yards in the loss to the Detroit Lions. More concerning than the numbers, he appeared to give up on plays multiple times.
How Did Brian Schottenheimer Address George Pickens’ Effort Issues?
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer reportedly reached out to his star pass catcher to address the situation. Talking to the media, he revealed that they had a productive conversation, adding that he wasn’t worried about it in the future.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said he recently had a conversation with George Pickens about several topics, which included his effort in Detroit: “We talked a little about it. In his words, he goes, ‘Hey, Schotty, I didn’t play my best game.’ Unfortunately, none of us played… pic.twitter.com/9xjTDaXQsO
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 8, 2025
“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said he recently had a conversation with George Pickens about several topics, which included his effort in Detroit: ‘We talked a little about it. In his words, he goes, ‘Hey, Schotty, I didn’t play my best game.’ Unfortunately, none of us played our best game. That’s real. But I don’t worry about George and his love for football and playing this game,'” Machota wrote on X.
Pickens has a long history of power struggles and tantrums, so the fact that he took ownership of his poor performance and vowed to improve is a positive sign for this team.
Why Is Jerry Jones Standing Behind George Pickens?
The Cowboys made a big gamble when they traded for the former second-round pick. Team owner and GM Jerry Jones has been one of his biggest supporters so far, and he defended him from the “lazy effort” narrative after the loss to the Lions.
“He didn’t have the game he’s been having,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, per Machota. “But effort, I would be very careful with him going there.”
Despite the dud, Pickens’ 93.1 PFSN impact metric is the third-highest among wide receivers this season. He’s the team’s leading pass catcher by a significant margin.
In 13 appearances (11 starts), the former Pittsburgh Steelers star has hauled in 78 receptions on 114 targets for 1,179 yards and eight touchdowns. There will always be concerns about his maturity and character, especially given that he will be signing the first big contract of his career.
Still, given the way he’s played and how he’s carried himself for most of the season, plus his chemistry with Dak Prescott, the Cowboys will be wise to bring him back.
