Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens became a topic of debate after a video went viral showing him seemingly disengaged during Thursday’s 44-30 defeat to the Detroit Lions.
The timing was particularly unfortunate, coming after star receiver CeeDee Lamb left the game in the third quarter with a concussion.
Pickens struggled all night, finishing with just five receptions for 37 yards on nine targets — the worst statistical performance of his Cowboys career so far. The play that attracted the most attention occurred in the fourth quarter when Pickens made minimal effort to reach an underthrown deep ball from Dak Prescott that landed right near him.
Former Super Bowl champion Richard Sherman didn’t hold back during his postgame analysis on Prime Video. “The big story tonight is George Pickens,” Sherman said. “Especially late in the game, he just looked like he wasn’t into it. That’s not acceptable.”
Sherman added context regarding Lamb’s absence, noting, “CeeDee Lamb is out, you’re supposed to be the go-to guy, and you can’t play halfheartedly. That’s not how this works.” He also questioned whether Dallas should commit $40 million to Pickens if they can’t rely on consistent effort, asking, “Is this someone we can trust to show up and perform no matter the circumstances?”
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark offered a slightly more forgiving perspective, suggesting that Pickens mostly let himself down rather than the team. “If he knows he’s one of the most talented players in the league, and all that’s asked of him is effort, he has to give it,” Clark said.
Pickens responded to criticism after the game, acknowledging, “Things didn’t go our way tonight,” and explaining that Detroit’s defense effectively took away his slant routes, where he had led the NFL in receiving yards before the matchup.
He briefly engaged Sherman on social media with a strongly worded reply, which he later deleted. Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer commented Friday that he would talk with Pickens but also stressed, “I’m going to evaluate him on his overall body of work, and that shows he is an elite player.”
NFL insider Albert Breer raised questions about Dallas’ long-term reliance on Pickens, pointing out that Pittsburgh had similar concerns before trading him to Dallas in May.
Despite the scrutiny, Pickens is enjoying a career season, totaling 78 catches for 1,179 yards and eight touchdowns over 13 games. Spotrac projects that he could secure a four-year extension worth $125 million, averaging $31.2 million annually, when contract talks begin in 2026.
The defeat dropped Dallas to 6-7, significantly hurting their playoff chances, which now stand at under 10%. The Cowboys will face Minnesota next, followed by games against the Chargers, Commanders, and Giants to close the regular season.
