Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie George Pickens’ Tantrum Doesn’t Bother Mike Tomlin

George Pickens has shown displeasure about his lack of involvement in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense from time to time in his rookie season.

The wide receiver did not hide his emotions last Sunday in the 19-16 victory over the Falcons in Atlanta. Pickens and coach Mike Tomlin had words on the sidelines after one offensive series.

Pickens was targeted just twice by quarterback Kenny Pickett the entire game. The second-round draft pick from Georgia made only one reception for two yards while playing just 75 miles from where he led the Bulldogs to the national title last season.

Tomlin would not say this week whether Pickens will be a bigger part of the game plan this time around. The Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium.

What Tomlin did say, though, is he does not begrudge Pickens for publicly showing his displeasure.

“I’d rather say whoa than sic ‘em,” Tomlin said earlier this week. “I want a guy that wants to be a significant part of what it is that we do. Now the appropriate and professional and mature way to express that, we’re growing and working on and we will continue to. But that spirit, that competitive spirit, the guy who wants the ball. I want that guy. I would imagine (linebacker) T.J. (Watt) wants to lay the quarterback down more.”

It has been a season of ups and downs for Pickens.

Pickens was targeted just five times and had two receptions in the first two games. In the next four games, the Steelers threw to Pickens 28 times, and he caught 21 passes.

However, Pickens has just 11 receptions on 21 targets over the past five games.

Overall, Pickens has 37 receptions for 512 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks third on the team in both receptions and receiving yards behind Diontae Johnson (61, 565) and tight end Pat Freiermuth (50, 597).

Perhaps Pickens will get more opportunities against a Ravens defense that is second in the NFL against the run but 25^th against the pass.

Regardless, Tomlin believes the whole exchange with Pickens has been overblown this week in the media.

“We got competitors. This is professional football,” Tomlin said. “These guys know that they have to deliver and so for a guy that wants to do that, I’m not going to make that a negative, no matter how silly I think the commentary is or people talking about him expressing frustrations and stuff and trying to make it a negative storyline.

“I laugh at that. That’s one of the reasons why we’re continually progressing because we’re capable of tuning that out.”

The Steelers (5-7) are hoping to continue their progress after winning back-to-back games for the first time this season. Pickett, also a rookie, is steadily getting better since replacing Mitch Trubisky at QB midway through a Week 4 loss to the New York Jets.

Last week, Pickett completed 16 of 28 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown.

It was Pickett’s fourth straight game without being picked off after throwing eight interceptions in his first five games. He also was not sacked for the first time in eight career starts.