Much was made of George Pickens' speculated lack of effort in the Dallas Cowboys' Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions. The questions were understandable in a game where CeeDee Lamb was lost to a concussion in the third quarter, and still, Pickens finished with only five catches for 37 yards and a costly fumble.
It was easily Pickens' worst game of the season and left some fans speculating whether or not there should be any level of concern. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer quickly put this to bed with the head coach commenting on the situation via The Athletic's Jon Machota.
" “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."Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys HC
The Dallas Morning News' Joseph Hoyt reiterated this message, noting that Schottenheimer and Pickens had talked and the head coach had zero concerns. This proves that the game against the Lions should be viewed as an outlier, and the focus of the Cowboys should remain on retaining a player who is enjoying a breakout season in Dallas. A one-off performance or questionable effort isn't going to shake or take away what has been a truly elite season.
George Pickens Isn't a Concern After Week 14 Dud
It is great to see as well that Pickens is back on the same page as the coaching staff and isn't making waves or causing any issues. There has been a well-covered narrative around Pickens dating back to the receiver's days in Georgia that painted the picture of the star as a prototypical selfish diva receiver. This simply cannot be further from what the Cowboys have experienced with the pass catcher playing at a high level and continuing to keep a team focus.
This doesn't mean his tenure is going to be perfect or that an understandably fiery player isn't going to have his struggles. Rather, the overall production and improvement line up with the message of the Cowboys' head coach. There simply isn't anything to worry about in an outlier of a game for Pickens.
He remains an important re-signing target and has done everything you would want to earn a big payday from Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones. With this in mind, Schottenheimer's comments should ease any concerns and put the focus back on the future of Pickens and a potential long-term extension.
After Week 14, Pickens has 1,179 yards on the season to go along with eight touchdowns and an undeniable chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott. This doesn't absolve the bad performance on Thursday, but it points out the reality of the positive production far outweighing any negatives. The Cowboys have no reason for concern, understanding that this volatility is part of what they signed up for, even if the experience has been smoother than expected so far.
A strong performance against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15 would go a long way for Pickens to help further convince Dallas fans that any worries and concerns have been overblown.