George Pickens had more drops than yards gained Saturday.
More inflammatory interactions with fans at Acrisure Stadium, too.
It was that kind of night for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 1 wide receiver, who had one reception on six targeted throws for 0 net yards in a 19-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Steelers’ regular-season finale.
Pickens finished a game with 3 or fewer receiving yards for the sixth time in 48 career pro outings. He had one or fewer receptions for the seventh time.
Pickens hurried out of the Steelers’ locker room late Saturday night and did not speak with reporters. But veteran quarterback Russell Wilson after the game stood by the mercurial No. 1 offensive weapon.
“I believe in George,” Wilson said. “I believe in who he is, the player he is. He’s been a star for us all season. You know, he’s going to be a difference maker for us in the playoffs, obviously, and I’m looking forward to that and what he can do, what we can do together.
“I’m not blinking on George. If anyone believes in him, I definitely do.”
Wilson hit Pickens on the Steelers’ second offensive snap from scrimmage. But he was tackled for no gain.
A night to forget for George Pickens:
1 Rec
6 Targets
3 Drops
0 Rec Yards pic.twitter.com/EEk3G48rl4
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 5, 2025blockquote>About the Writers
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
