George Pickens has been coming under fire for his effort in the Cowboys’ loss to the Lions on Thursday.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was asked if he noticed a lack of effort from Pickens during his weekly interview on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) on Friday.
“He didn’t have the game that he’s been having. But effort? I would be very careful going there with him,” Jones said. “This guy, he’s explosive with his temperament, and I say that in a positive way. I don’t think so much it was effort, but I don’t necessarily have a good explanation as to why he didn’t show up more, especially, against the backdrop that they were limited in their secondary.”
Pickens has been a revelation for the Cowboys this season, entering Thursday’s game as the NFL’s second-leading receiver.
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However, he had just five catches on nine targets for 37 yards against the Lions, his lowest yardage total since the season opener against the Eagles. He was also called for two penalties: an offensive pass interference and a facemask.
Former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman, now an analyst for Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football coverage, criticized Pickens after the game.
“George Pickens throughout the game, especially late in the game, just looked uninterested. Uninterested in playing football,” Sherman said. “That’s what you can’t have. If you’re going to be a superstar, if you want to be the best receiver in the National Football League, you can’t ever be disengaged. It doesn’t matter if the game’s going your way or not going your way.”
The Cowboys acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in an offseason trade. This season in Dallas, Pickens has already posted career highs in receptions (78), targets (114), yards (1,179) and touchdowns (eight).
“He has exceeded our expectations. He’s having an outstanding year,” Jones said. “I would have thought we could go to Pickens more [against the Lions].”
Pickens will be a free agent this offseason, but Jones said last month the Cowboys don’t plan on him being in a different uniform in 2026.
Staff writer Joe Hoyt contributed to this post.
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