Maybe this will put all the Steelers’ recent drama to bed.
Amid criticism that he didn’t set a block in last week’s loss to the Colts, George Pickens reeled in an 86-yard-catch and run with an impressive play in the first half for the Steelers on Saturday against the rival Bengals.
With a little under 11 minutes to go in the first quarter, third-stringer Mason Rudolph took a snap out of the shotgun and fired a quick strike to Pickens, who easily caught the ball as he beat the single coverage against him.
From there, Pickens turned on the jets, breaking through when a Bengals defensive back grabbed at his jersey at around the Steelers’ 33-yard line before he sprinted down the far side of the field for the longest touchdown of his NFL career.
After the play, Pickens and head coach Mike Tomlin even shared a hug.
He had two catches from 130 yards at the half and Pittsburgh leading 24-0.
It’s been an interesting week — to say the least — for Pickens, who was embroiled in some drama after being called out for not setting a block for running back Jaylen Warren near the goal line in their loss to the Colts.
Earlier this week, the 22-year-old wideout, who’d previously been excoriated for showing frustrations on the sidelines during a Week 14 loss, explained why he didn’t block on the play.
“I was trying to prevent a Tank Dell situation,” Pickens told reporters, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I didn’t want to get injured. When you stay in and block somebody, you can get run on very easily.”
Warren later said he understood why Pickens didn’t set the block, but he would’ve done things differently.
“I see where he’s coming from,” Warren told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It is what it is. At the end of the day, he was doing what he thought was best for him.
“Some people play the game differently. If I was in that position I would have blocked for him. But we play differently, so…”
Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and ex-defensive back Ryan Clark both voiced their displeasure over the non-block.
Maybe with Pickens’ latest big play, Pittsburgh can move on as it clings to its last shreds of playoff hopes.
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