Long-maligned group of Steelers complementary WRs step up with George Pickens out

For all of George Pickens’ … volatility … at times with after-whistle incidents or between-games chatter, he has been remarkably durable and reliably available over his three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

So even though Pickens suffered a hamstring injury Friday and was officially listed as questionable to play against the Cleveland Browns, Pickens’ replacement in the lineup wasn’t actually expecting Pickens to miss Sunday’s game.

“It was like three minutes before the inactives were announced, (and) I am just chilling, sitting here (at his locker) in my (street clothes),” Scotty Miller said of when word reached him that Pickens would not play against the Browns. “I didn’t know I was playing, I thought George was going to be out there.

“It was crazy, but when you get an opportunity, you got to be able to take advantage of it — or someone else is gonna get it. That is what we talked about.”

Miller and the rest of a Steelers complementary receiving corps that has largely been maligned from the outside since spring? They filled in for Pickens’ absence capably enough to help pace the Steelers’ 27-14 victory Sunday.

Since March when the Steelers traded their former leading receiver, Diontae Johnson, it had been long speculated that the organization would acquire another high-level pass-catcher to complement Pickens.

That never truly materialized, though the Steelers did trade for Mike Williams on Nov. 5. But the group of Williams, Miller, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Ben Skowronek had combined for just 44 catches for the Steelers this season — less combined as a five-man group than Pickens had alone (55).

But with Pickens’ career-opening “iron man” streak of 46 consecutive games played ending Sunday, the Steelers receiving corps contributed via a Jefferson touchdown and Miller and Williams each having a clutch 20-plus yard, third-down catch to aid in the win.

“You guys (in the media) were asking us about our lack of a ‘No. 2 (receiver)’ in (training camp and the preseason),” coach Mike Tomlin said. “The guys made plays where we throw the ball to make plays. The strength of the pack is the pack. We’ve got a bunch of guys that want to be the reasons why we’re successful, and when given an opportunity, I think they continually prove that, whether Scotty or Mike or Calvin or Van, we believe in our group. I know I’ve said that to you guys repeatedly. Maybe you’ll start believing me.”

Miller wasn’t the only skill player on offense who was caught a bit off-guard that their alpha (Pickens led the NFL in yards per catch last season) would not play. Tomlin said the Steelers kept Pickens out because they didn’t think his tender hamstring could handle much of a workload.

“We didn’t want a small problem,” Tomlin said, “to become a big problem.”

It was late Sunday morning when tight end Pat Freiermuth found out Pickens wasn’t playing.

“My dad … texted me, ‘GP is down, hamstring,’” Freiermuth said. “And I was like ‘OK.’ Thanks, Dad.”

Freiermuth led the Steelers in receiving yards (48) and had his fifth touchdown to tie for the team lead.

“The game plan didn’t change at all,” Freiermuth said of the adjustments without Pickens. “We have full belief in everybody on the offense.”

The receivers combined for eight catches for 88 yards. Though Miller was Pickens’ replacement in the lineup, who ran his routes and lined up at his spot evolved and was malleable throughout the game.

“(Receivers coach Zach Azzanni) always has us prepared,” Jefferson said. “He’s always telling us, ‘You never know in the flow of a game what can happen.’

“We all just wanted to step up, and I think we did a great job of doing that.”

With Jefferson and Miller on one-year, low-money contracts, Skowronek a late-preseason acquisition, Williams acquired for a late-round draft pick and Austin having entered the season with 17 career catches, the position group has forged something of a bond — an island of misfit receivers, if you will.

Azzanni has worked to create a culture in which each receiver is ready to step up when needed.

“That’s why when something like (Pickens’ injury) does happen, it was honestly so painless,” Austin said. “It was one of the big advantages we had today.”