George Pickens (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The NFL is investigating Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver George Pickens for a potential uniform violation, stemming from the eye black he wore in Week 5 with a vulg@r message.
During the Steelers’ Week 5 home game against the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football”, close-up cameras showed George Pickens wearing eye black with a message reading, “Open F**KING Always.”
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the league is now investigating Pickens “for a potential fine over violation of the league’s uniform policy.” As Pryor noted, the league has a rule that bans players from “wearing, displaying or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.”
The 23-year-old George Pickens had his quietest outing of the season on Sunday, hauling in only three catches on seven targets. This was a major drop-off from Pickens’ Week 4 outing against the Indianapolis Colts, where he caught seven passes for 113 yards.
George Pickens running routes last night
what do you notice? pic.twitter.com/viBVOL2I7K
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 7, 2024
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Pickens is coming off the best season of his young career, hauling in 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. Through his first five games of 2024, the 2022 second-round pick has 3 catches for 310 yards and no touchdowns.
The Steelers were a fourth-down stop away from beating Dallas to improve to 4-1, but Dak Prescott found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone for the game-winning TD in the waning seconds. Pittsburgh is now 3-2 heading into their Week 6 road game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Steelers Need More From George Pickens & The Offense
The TJ Watt-led defense will always give the Steelers a chance to win, but Pittsburgh won’t compete for a Super Bowl unless the offense finds its rhythm and consistency.
Pittsburgh opened a void at WR when they traded star Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. If the offense (especially the passing game) doesn’t get going soon, GM Omar Khan should explore the trade market for a receiver like Amari Cooper (Cleveland Browns) or DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans) or even Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders) if he’s still available.
VIDEO: Hot Mic Caught Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis Taking A Brutal Shot At Steelers WR George Pickens After The Steelers WR’s Disrespectful Act On ‘Sunday Night Football’
Jourdan Lewis (Photos via @BobbyBeltTX/Twitter & NBC)
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis was heard trashing George Pickens after Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Cowboys were generally ugly on the offensive side of the ball but got into the end zone in key moments en route to a 20-17 win.
The Steelers don’t have much going for them offensively either, although Pickens can have an impact when he puts his mind to it, which was not the case against Dallas on Sunday.
The Pittsburgh wide receiver made just three catches for 26 yards, with Justin Fields targeting him on seven occasions.
Lewis and the Cowboys secondary kept a lid on the Pickens threat all game, and it appears frustrations boiled over as he lashed out at the end.
The cornerback had some words for him while leaving the field after the win. Cameras caught Lewis advising the Steelers to get a new wide receiver because Pickens is “weak.”
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Check it out in the video below:
Pickens, who isn’t known for his meekness or humility, is expected to clap back. So let’s wait for that.
George Pickens Is Also Expected To Be Fined
Meanwhile, Pickens should expect to be fined for his petulant actions in the wake of the defeat. The wideout nearly caused a brawl on the field after dragging Lewis down by his facemask as the clock expired.
Lewis had recovered a fumble on the final play and went over to Pickens to say something before the WR grabbed his mask and pulled him to the ground.
Check it out below:
Fortunately, the referees were able to contain the situation before it could escalate.
