It’s a game of hide and seek in the NFL, and this week, George Pickens is “it.” After the Steelers’ 20-17 loss to the Cowboys, rumors stirred about the young wideout wanting out. Coach Tomlin tried to put the chatter to rest. But Pickens playing media dodgeball is what’s really grabbing attention. Could this land him in hot water? Looks like it. And hey, wasn’t Tyreek Hill pulling the same stunt not too long ago in Week 4? Ah! He was.

Instead of responding to media interview requests, Pickens spent a good 30 minutes in the equipment room. Sure, he was visible, but completely off-limits for interviews. According to NFL rules, players are supposed to be available post-game and throughout the week. Uh-Oh! Another fumble?

Speaking of fumbles, Pickens has been fumbling more than just his media responsibilities lately. His costly week 4 slip-up against the Colts? Yeah, you cannot be doing that and then follow it with these antics. It’d be safe to say that the 23-year-old’s having a tough stretch. Mike Tomlin addressed Pickens’ limited snaps, saying it was all part of the plan.

Not exactly music to a wide receiver’s ears, huh? And Pickens made sure everyone knew it. Sporting a mouth guard that boldly declared, “Always F—ing Open.” Now that’s one way to let your emotions do the talking. And you can tell that maturity is the part of the game he still needs to up in his third year.

While we are at it, Tyreek Hill faced similar scrutiny when he didn’t even crack 50 yards in his game against the Titans, finishing with just four catches for 23 yards. You could almost hear the collective sigh of confusion from the Dolfans post-game. But Hill’s frustration boiled over, and he dodged media duties too.

But unlike in Pickens’ case, Phins’ Coach Mike McDaniel did back his wideout. He said, “I would expect him to be visibly upset.” It seems the receiver corps are doing more to catch fines than passes.

Is George Pickens ‘weak’?

And George Pickens? The boy’s making it difficult for himself only. When you’re not walking your talks on the gridiron, the best thing to do is to stay away from off-the-field antics. But the Steelers’ man seems to be doing both at the moment. Pickens has already had a few rough outings, like that Week 4 fumble.

But here’s the kicker: even with fewer snaps, he still led the team against the Cowboys with seven targets. Yet, just 26 yards on three catches? Ouch. Not exactly the kind of stat line you want when trying to prove your worth. And to top it off, Cowboys’ CB Jourdan Lewis rubbed salt in the wound with his parting shot: “George Pickens weak.”

It’s a low blow, but hey, that’s part of the game. Dallas earned their bragging rights for the night. But is it really all doom and gloom for Pickens? Tomlin doesn’t seem to think so. He compared it to managing the snaps of D-linemen like Cam Heyward. “It’s just about snap management,” Tomlin explained, hinting there’s no deeper issue. Easier said than done. Especially when Pickens is seeing Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin get more snaps while doing less. That’s gotta burn.

So, what’s next for Pickens and the Steelers? With two straight losses, Pittsburgh’s got some soul-searching to do before facing the Raiders. As for Pickens? He’ll be looking to catch more passes, not just strays.