What Did George Pickens Say to Cowboys HC After Criticism Following Loss vs. Lions?

George Pickens has been largely excellent for the Dallas Cowboys this season, but he struggled in Thursday's loss to the Detroit Lions.

And he took responsibility for his performance during a conversation with head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

"We talked a little about it," Schottenheimer told reporters Monday. "In his words, he goes, 'Hey, Schotty, I didn't play my best game.' Unfortunately, none of us played our best game. That's real. But I don't worry about George and his love for football and playing this game."

CeeDee Lamb (six catches for 121 yards) and Ryan Flournoy (nine catches for 115 yards and one touchdown) were Dak Prescott's top two receivers in the loss, although the former exited in the third quarter with a concussion.

That seemed to be a time when Pickens would pick up some of the slack, but he finished with five catches for just 37 yards.

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It was a far cry from much of the rest of his season, as the Georgia product has 78 catches for 1,179 yards and eight touchdowns through 13 games. Those are all career-high marks, and there are still four games remaining in the 2025 campaign.

Pickens has been open about his desire to remain in Dallas beyond this season, and his play has largely suggested the front office should bring him back in 2026 and beyond.

However, he will be under more of a spotlight following his poor showing against the Lions in what was a critical game for the Cowboys. They fell to 6-6-1 and remain two games behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the loss column in the NFC East.

They are also behind the 9-4 Chicago Bears, 8-5 Lions and 7-6 Carolina Panthers in the race for the final NFC wild-card spot with head-to-head losses to all three of them.

Dallas likely has to win out to have any sort of realistic chance at making the playoffs, and that starts Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Given Pickens' track record, the rest of this season and his conversation with his head coach, it would be anything but surprising if he bounces back in a major way.