NFL Week 1: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) can’t make the catch on a deep pass in the end zone late in the second quarter, Thursday, September 4, 2025, in Philadelphia. Defending for the Eagles is cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (27).Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens made his Dallas Cowboys debut on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles, but it was a script Steelers fans have seen more often than not.
Pickens finished with three receptions for 30 yards, though he gained hidden yards with a big defensive pass interference he forced early in the game. That part of the game, including a crucial third down catch late in the game, was all vintage Pickens.
HIs physical gifts were very much on display despite the modest stats. However, so were the demons that have reared their head throughout his NFL career.
Pickens clotheslined Eagles safety Reed Blankenship on an otherwise mundane run, costing the Cowboys 15 yards. It did not end up mattering in the end, but those penalties happened too often with the Steelers, and it was an unnecessary action for him to take.
Then, throughout the tape, Pickens did not go 100 percent on some routes and run plays. Pickens finished with four total targets on the day and will clearly be a big part of the offense, so he will have his big plays and days, but a lot of what a typical Pickens game would have looked like with the Steelers, is exactly how it looked in Philadelphia on Thursday.
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