The Pittsburgh Steelers got revenge against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, 27-14. But they did it without top wide receiver George Pickens. As a result, the offense looked a little different than usual.
RB Jalen Warren was the Steelers’ most targeted player with five in the passing game. Wide receivers Scotty Miller and Mike Williams tied for second with four. Still, the Steelers won by two points. But are the Steelers built to win without Pickens?
“We’re keeping an eye on George Pickens’ injury,” Dan Orlovsky said. Tuesday’s episode of NFL Live. “Hamstring. I think Pittsburgh has to be very careful about that, because without him, we don’t have a chance. With him, I feel a little bit different and I’m more encouraged. Their run game? It’s still up and down. They had moments where they ran the ball well, but they didn’t have many efficient moments.”
Mr. Orlovsky’s concerns are very reasonable. George Pickens has stepped up as Pittsburgh’s No. 1 receiver since the team traded WR Diontae Johnson in the offseason. He has been targeted 90 times through 12 games, averaging 7.5 targets per game. That’s higher than the goal in 2023, when Johnson missed a series of games due to injury.
Pickens has just three touchdowns this season, but it’s notable that all three came after QB Russell Wilson was added to the starting lineup. Before Wilson made his first start against the New York Jets, he averaged more than 10 yards per target in just two of six games. Wilson has had four such games since he took the field against the Jets (including that game). And if you’re concerned about yards per catch, he’s had at least 15 yards per catch in five of seven games with quarterback Wilson.
George Pickens took his game to another level this year with Wilson at quarterback. And the Steelers’ offense looks much better. On the one hand, that would mean the Steelers would want Pickens back as soon as possible to continue their quest for an AFC North title.
On the other hand, hamstring injuries (actually soft tissue injuries) take longer to heal. If the Steelers bring Pickens back too soon, they could lose him for longer. As head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday, an MRI scan revealed the injury was more serious than originally thought.
The reality is that the Steelers offense has struggled to produce consistently outside of Pickens. As Orlovsky said, the run game hasn’t been consistently great. They are averaging 3.9 yards per game this season, which ranks 29th in the league. That’s the same yards per carry as running back Najee Harris. And the road won’t be easy for the Steelers either.
They play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Eagles are one of the top teams in the NFC and will be a key test of how close the Steelers are to becoming a Super Bowl contender.
Next weekend, the Steelers will play the Baltimore Ravens again. The Steelers defeated them in their first meeting of the season, but a win next weekend could end the Ravens’ AFC North title aspirations.
Then Christmas Day arrives, and a meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won back-to-back Super Bowls, arrives. The important thing is that a win against the Eagles would be great. But there will be even bigger fish to fry in the coming weeks. Do the Steelers want to rush George Pickens back and potentially cause even more significant damage? Or will it give it the time it needs to heal properly?
Because a healthy George Pickens is a problem for everyone. Former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib called him the top receiver in the league. And yes, everyone, including the Steelers. But if he returns too soon and his hamstring injury worsens, the Steelers will have an even bigger problem than his on-field antics.
George Pickens’ long-term hamstring injury could very well end the Pittsburgh Steelers’ chances of postseason success.
