Mike Tomlin: WR George Pickens won't be benched for Steelers game against Bengals

If George Pickens faces any discipline from the Pittsburgh Steelers for his recent on-field conduct and subsequent comments to the media, it won’t be made public, and it won’t involve the second-year wide receiver being benched Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday that Pickens is a “work in progress” and lacks professionalism and maturity, but he plans to keep him in the lineup as the 7-7 Steelers try to snap a three-game losing streak and remain alive in the AFC playoff race.

“He’s got talents. We want to utilize them,” Tomlin said in a rare post-practice interview at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Tomlin typically does not speak to reporters other than his weekly news conference. But he was made available upon a media request and opened with a statement about Pickens in the wake of comments that were made a day earlier.

Pickens said Tuesday that he didn’t finish his block on a Jaylen Warren run last Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts because he feared getting injured and didn’t want to end up like Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell, who sustained a season-ending leg fracture while blocking near the goal line.

“I would like him to be more professional in terms of addressing some of his shortcomings with you guys,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin met with Pickens last week because he believed the wide receiver’s display of frustrations about his role in the Steelers offense were not “solution-oriented.” Pickens on Tuesday initially denied that meeting took place, then relayed through the public relations staff that he was confused about the timing of the Tomlin meeting.

Tomlin said he met again with Pickens on Wednesday. He said Pickens did not divulge a risk of injury as the reason he did not follow through on his block during Warren’s run.

“How he deals with us, and how he deals with you are two different things,” he said, “and may be a reflection of maturity issues or needed growth in that area.”

Interim offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner didn’t like the effort Pickens showed on the Warren run. Pickens pulled off his defender and watched the end of the play as Warren was tackled at the Colts 1.

“We have to go out and execute every play to the highest level with every player,” Faulkner said. “That is the expectation. How do you handle that? You address it, you present it to the group, you make sure it’s called out amongst the guys, they understand what your stance is and you move on from that.”

Pickens, 22, faced concerns about maturity when the Steelers selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Georgia. Tomlin said the Steelers have worked with Pickens, as well as the team’s other young players, on growth and development on and off the field.

“He is very much a work in progress,” Tomlin said. “It is continual. It’s not going to be one incident or one meeting or one form of discipline that is going to institute the type of change we’re hunting,” he said. “It is going to be continual. He is aware of that.”

The timing of Pickens’ display against the Colts and his explanation of his conduct in the aftermath come at a difficult time for the Steelers, who essentially need to win their final three games to make the playoffs. By keeping Pickens on the field, the Steelers are providing another talented pass-catching option for third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph, who is expected to make his first start in two years.

“When you’re winning and doing your jobs, a lot of attention is on that,” Tomlin said. “When you’re not doing your job and you’re losing, you better keep your damn mouth shut and understand that that attracts a certain kind of attention as well, and that’s certainly vulture-like attention.”

Veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson has discussed with Pickens ways he can handle situations better rather than sulk about his usage in the offense. Pickens has gone seven consecutive games without a touchdown catch and has topped 58 yards receiving once in the past eight games.

“I try to talk to him a lot,” Robinson said. “At the same time, players have their own understanding and interpretations of things. My job as a veteran is to try to make guys big-picture oriented. I want George to have a long-lasting career.”