Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens has been in the middle of trade rumors amid the team's ongoing struggles. After an impressive debut season last year, Pickens has seen his snaps take a dip this season.
However, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer told beat write Clarence Hill Jr. that it's not been because of the wide receiver's blocking in the running game. Instead, Schottenheimer points to Pickens' injuries as to why he hasn't been on the field quite as much. He also added that Pickens is one of the best players on the team, and purposely taking him off the field “would be poor coaching by me.”
Schottenheimer had also explained why both Pickens and Lamb were both not on the field late during their stunning loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Pickens had a highly productive first season after getting traded from Pittsburgh to Dallas. He played in all 17 games and recorded 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns — all career-highs. He played in 82% of the team's offensive snaps that season, per Pro-Football Reference.
This season, his snap percentage through eight games is down to 78%. His numbers have also been down across the board, with just 39 catches for 533 yards and two scores. Whether or not injuries have played a part in that decline is unknown.
Despite Pickens' name popping up in trade rumors ahead of the deadline, though, a recent report suggest he is happy in Dallas. One top NFL insider also said he would be “stunned” if the Cowboys parted ways with Pickens.
So unless something drastic happens, Pickens will remain a Cowboy for the foreseeable future. That means it will be up to Brian Schottenheimer to try and get the most out of his star wide receiver, injuries and all.