George Pickens offered another highlight for those attending Tuesday’s training-camp practice at Saint Vincent.
The Steelers’ third-year receiver, Pickens was targeted by quarterback Justin Fields on the only throw among seven snaps of the “seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation that typically begins the team drills portion of each practice day.
Fields took a two-step drop on what was, obviously, a play-call in which he looked to the right corner of the end zone and laid up a pass to Pickens, who was on a fade route with Joey Porter Jr. in coverage.
Pickens was engaged with Porter with his left hand and reached out with his right hand to reel in the ball and pull it into his body.
Pads come on.
— Baku ???? (@Mazursky8895) July 30, 2024
Fields makes a perfect pass.
Highlight reel GP catch. pic.twitter.com/DfZ5U0yv9u
“One-on-one like that in the end zone, you’ve got to get it to the best receiver on the team and give him a chance to make a play,” Fields said. “Fifty-fifty balls to George isn’t really 50/50. He’s gonna come down with it more of the time.”
Porter looked to others in a futile effort to elicit a “penalty” for offensive interference on Pickens, to no avail. Many fans in the stands at Chuck Noll Field cheered loudly at the play, which became viral on social media after a fan posted a video of it.
It was the second consecutive year during camp that Pickens made an acrobatic one-handed catch. Pickens repeatedly has made highlight-reel plays, including a reception during a regular-season game in Cleveland last year.
Justin Fields knows George Pickens is HIM@justnfields | @BMac_SportsTalk | @steelers pic.twitter.com/6NdNV3rLAq
— NFL on CBS ???? (@NFLonCBS) July 30, 2024
Media are prohibited from taking video of team drills during practices.
