Trouble, trouble, and yet more trouble. The Steelers’ third-year WR George Pickens has found himself having a run-in with the league rules again. And no, this isn’t about his Houdini act with the media after that painful loss to the Cowboys—he was already ready to face the music on that front. This time, it’s all about that eye-black statement: “Open F—–g Always.” Bold move, right? He won’t be saying that!

Pickens claimed he had no idea about the league’s strict policy against personal messages. When reminded that Cam Heyward got slapped with a fine for writing his dad’s name in his eye black, Pickens shrugged it off, saying, “Years ago? When I wasn’t in the league? So, nah.” You’ve got to wonder if he thought he was just playing with fire without a fire extinguisher!

Steelers Nation surely remembers the uproar when the league fined Heyward for his heartfelt tribute back in 2015. If that landed Heyward in hot water, you can bet George Pickens won’t be escaping the league’s scrutiny unscathed! The NFL rules are as clear as a referee’s whistle: players can’t sport personal messages unless they’ve got the league’s stamp of approval. It’s like they’re saying, “Leave the personal touches at home, folks!”

Coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t having any of the drama either. When asked about Pickens’ eye black, he delivered a classic line: “I don’t know what messaging you’re talking about regarding his eye black.” You’ve got to love that coach-speak—always dodging the heat! But let’s be real here; it’s hard to believe Tomlin is completely out of the loop on this one.

Still, Pickens is a guy who likes to march to the beat of his own drum. Sure, a league that fines players for mismatched socks probably won’t take kindly to F-bombs splashed across their broadcasts, and Pickens might be feeling a pinch in his wallet come Saturday.

But let’s not get too caught up in the off-field antics. The real concern is Pickens’ performance on the field. Five games into the season, he’s still searching for his rhythm. You know the NFL—flashy eye black doesn’t win games. What really counts is how he produces when the snap occurs. And he can’t find the level of production expected.

George Pickens in a pickle!

You can bet on one thing: George Pickens is not escaping the criticisms like he escaped the media. At least not anytime soon. Why? It’s all about the underwhelming numbers and inconsistent plays.

310 receiving yards and no end zone celebrations, still. Yikes! Not exactly what you want to see, especially with Steel City hoping for big things, right? Now the America’s Team made it worse for him. Limiting Pickens to just 34 snaps—his career-lowest. Ouch! And to add salt to the wound, he only snagged thrice over 26 yards.

You know it’s bad when they ask you to sit out for the rest of the game! And what’s worse? Your HC explained it as a “snap management” strategy. But the thinking antennas rise when he’s still managing to get all the attention on him somehow. The eye-black drama is overshadowing his performance. That’s a bummer!

And hey, there’s more. George Pickens was treated like a third-string player. He logged fewer snaps than both Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III, who were running routes like it was their last day on Earth. It’s tough to watch, especially when you know he has so much potential.

Now, hold on. Obviously, Pickens had his own take on the situation. “It was just part of a game structure, game plan,” he said, trying to play the blame game. “It’s not up to me, it’s up to Art (Smith).” But let’s get real here. He averaged 49 snaps per game as a rookie, which is pretty consistent. Fast forward to now, and here we are. It feels like he has sent a message. However, it’s not exactly the kind of motivation you want when you’re trying to prove yourself.

So, what’s next for Pickens: Will he step up and show the Steelers he deserves more time on the field? Or will he continue to ride the bench while others shine? And the Raiders on Sunday bring an opportunity for him to take our attention off the drama that surrounds him.