Steelers Now
If not for his ridiculous performance against the Cincinnati Bengals while with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023, George Pickens’ showing with the Dallas Cowboys in primetime Sunday night would’ve been the best he’s ever had.
Filling in for an injured CeeDee Lamb, Pickens registered 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight receptions during his team’s 40-40 tie with the Green Bay Packers. Former Steelers defensive back Patrick Peterson was asked Monday on “Up & Adams” if Mike Tomlin’s team will miss the unpredictable, high-flying wideout.
“No. Because they’ve got a guy in DK Metcalf that can do just as more as George,” Peterson said. “DK Metcalf, you can move him around in an offensive scheme a little bit more, to where when George was there, he was primarily just an ‘X’ receiver. So you can game plan a little bit more with DK Metcalf versus George Pickens.
“DK is a little bit bigger as far as structurally-wise, but they both can make guys miss. … I think they end up getting a great trade off in receivers, so that’s why I truly believe they will not miss George.”
Insane George Pickens contested catches still hit like crack. pic.twitter.com/unKDGXELV2
— Mike Kennedy (@MikeKennedyNFL) September 29, 2025
The Steelers traded for Metcalf on the eve of free agency in March, then shipped Pickens to America’s Team nearly two months later in exchange for third- and fifth-round draft choices. Before then, Cam Newton compared the duo, which never saw the field together, to a modern-day version of Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall in Chicago. Metcalf and Pickens never spoke after the former arrived in the Steel City.
“It was no way they were gonna have both of those two. Yeah, no way,” Peterson said.
Metcalf also had a breakout game on Sunday, registering five grabs for 126 yards and an 80-yard touchdown during the Steelers’ 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin. Metcalf has 15 catches for 261 yards and three touchdowns through four weeks.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Despite Big Game, Steelers Won’t Regret George Pickens Trade
