The Pittsburgh Steelers are floundering.
After getting off to a hot 3-0 start, the Steelers have dropped two games in a row to drop them to 3-2. In the Steelers’ most recent loss to the Dallas Cowboys, fans noticed that star wide receiver George Pickens wasn’t on the field as much as usual. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about Pickens snap count after the game and was frank about the situation.
“We just wanted to minimize his reps in an effort to get more productivity,” Tomlin said, per Brooke Pryor. “We did want to cut his reps a little bit in an effort to get higher quality play, just in general.”
The full exchange with Mike Tomlin on George Pickens playing only 34 of 57 offensive snaps
Tomlin: "We just wanted to minimize his reps in an effort to get more productivity. … We did want to cut his reps a little bit in an effort to get higher quality play, just in general." pic.twitter.com/mQw2vD2i5q
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 7, 2024
Fans reacted online to the shocking news that Pittsburgh was intentionally leaving one of its best players off of the field.
“Minimize the snaps of your only offensive playmaker? I call BS. Something smells fishy,” one fan said on Twitter.
“This is one of more ridiculous things I’ve heard from Tomlin. Steelers have receivers that no one else wants and we are playing our #1 barely over half the snaps? There are a lot of concerns within the Steelers right now but to me, the biggest is easy to see,” another fan said.
“Translation: if the ball isn’t going to him he doesn’t play hard so we are better off with someone else,” a fan wrote.
“What in the word salad is this??” a fan asked.
Things are not going well for the Steelers, and if the team can’t get it turned around soon there are sure to be major changes coming soon.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.