Steelers' George Pickens is called “weak” by Cowboys' Jourdan Lewis

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was heavily criticized by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis after Sunday's game.

As Lewis headed to the locker room after the Cowboys' 20-17 win at Acrisure Stadium, he heard the Steelers' third-year wide receiver sound off.

“Pittsburgh needs a receiver,” Lewis said, according to a post on X by Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “George Pickens is weak.”

Pickens had three catches for 26 yards against Dallas. He was targeted seven times. It was a frustrating game for Pickens, who ripped Lewis down by his facemask after the final play. The two had to be separated by a referee. Lewis then left the field before calling Pickens “weak.”

The 23-year-old Pickens has 23 catches for 310 yards and no touchdowns in five games this season. He plays 73 percent of offensive snaps, the lowest in his NFL career.

After the game against the Cowboys, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin explained why Pickens played 34 of 58 snaps, the third-most on the team's wide receiver unit.

“We just wanted to minimize his reps to increase productivity,” Tomlin said, according to Penn Live. “We’re just trying to represent the whole of the big picture. He was no less central to our intentions of what we wanted to do offensively.”

Tomlin added that it was about “snap management” and that there was no “underlying story,” according to Penn Live.