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There are plenty of ways to describe George Pickens. Many of them aren't flattering but one is: valuable.
It pains me to admit that Pickens is indispensable in the Steelers' quest to win their first playoff game in eight seasons. He consistently has been a problem from nearly the day the Steelers drafted him in 2022.
Too often, his on-field actions have been reprehensible, but his value to this team – at least this season – is bigger than his attitude issues.
We learned that Sunday during the Steelers' 27-14 victory over the Browns – a game that could have ended differently if kicker Dustin Hopkins hadn't missed a pair of easy field goals.
Pickens didn't play and is expected to miss Sunday's game in Philadelphia because of a hamstring injury.
It didn't take long against the Browns to feel the effects of his absence. The Steelers' offense stumbled. Russ Wilson's accuracy faltered and he ended the first half with 59 yards passing – a week after he threw for 414 yards in a 44-38 victory over the Bengals. Wilson rebounded and finished the game with 158 yards and a pair of touchdown passes, but the energy didn't seem to be the same.
Pickens makes an underwhelming receiving corps good enough to keep the Steelers in the Super Bowl conversation. He's their best receiver since Antonio Brown. None has had the athleticism to separate himself from the best cornerbacks in the NFL like Pickens.
Let's face it. It's grin and bear it when it comes to George. I can't remember AB ever being flagged for unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties after making a big catch – let alone two in one game – but the Steelers can't reach their primary goal without Pickens.
Through 12 games – six in which Justin Fields started – Pickens has 55 catches for 850 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's averaging 15.5 yards per catch and forces defenses to pay extra attention to him on every snap.
He doesn't quite play like AB, but he's getting darn close.
This doesn't exonerate Pickens' behavior. It frustrates Mike Tomlin, but Tomlin is smart enough to know that talent dictates how much grief he's willing to absorb. In Pickens' case, Tomlin is holding a thick sponge.
The 10-3 Steelers begin their most grueling stretch of the season Sunday in Philadelphia, likely sans Pickens. The Ravens and Chiefs follow. What has developed into a watershed season could drown by Christmas Day – even with Pickens playing.
Now imagine them without him. His absence Sunday initially seemed to be taken as a precautionary measure, but it appears to be worse than previously assumed. Sunday's degree of difficulty just doubled.
On a positive note, the Steelers have finally returned tight end Pat Freiermuth's increased role in the passing game. In the past three weeks, he has a combined 13 catches for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a perfectly thrown pass from Wilson that split a pair of Browns defensive backs for a 20-yard score.
It's a delight to see Freiermuth once again being utilized in this post-Ben era, with or without Pickens on the field. Together, they create a nasty receiver/tight end tandem not had in Pittsburgh since Heath Miller retired nearly a decade ago.
For sure, Pickens' antics can be frustrating, but it's too late in the season to fix them. Too much is at stake. He's an essential cog in keeping the Steelers among the league's elite and he can't return soon enough.
Is he a problem for the Steelers? Of course.
But he's a much bigger problem for opponents – and that's all that matters right now.
George Pickens gets behind the Ravens (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)