Steelers Rumors: George Pickens Had 'Heated Exchange' with WRs Coach at Practice

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens drew the ire from one of his coaches during a practice this week.

Per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pickens and Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni had a "heated exchange" at training camp because Azzanni "didn't like the way Pickens executed his assignment."

Pickens was described as being "visibly upset" by the altercation when he was approached by his fellow receivers.

This is shaping up to be a big season for Pickens. Head coach Mike Tomlin addressed issues related to the third-year wideout's apparent lack of effort during a Week 16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts last season.

"George is a talented guy but he's growing and growing in a lot of ways in regards to football and life," Tomlin said. "We don't run away from that. We run to that organizationally when we draft guys. We're committed to being a component of their growth and development in all areas."

The Steelers have taken steps to change their receiver room after the unit was criticized for a lack of focus on the field at times.

Diontae Johnson had to issue an apology for not attempting to go after a fumble in a Week 12 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers for Donte Jackson and a 2024 sixth-round draft pick in March.

The exchange with Azzanni could just be a case of the two men getting acclimated to each other. Azzanni is entering his first season on Tomlin's staff after spending last year as the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets.

Pickens will be counted on as Pittsburgh's No. 1 receiver this season. The 23-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two years. He led the NFL with 18.1 receiving yards and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in 2023.