George Pickens Explains Skirmish with Commanders CB: ‘I Got Physical Back’

LANDOVER, Md. — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had a banner day in Sunday’s 28-27 win over the Washington Commanders, recording five receptions for 91 yards (18.2 average) and a jaw-dropping 16-yard touchdown. Pickens tracked the ball in the air and displayed outstanding body control on the touchdown catch.

While it was a productive afternoon for the third-year wideout out of Georgia, there was also some head-scratching plays. Instead of chasing Commaders safety Jeremy Chinn after an interception late in the third quarter, Pickens went after cornerback Mike Sainristil who attempted to throw a block on him.

Pickens simply said “yeah” when asked if he was certain that he tagged Chinn following the interception. That’s why he let some frustration out on Saintristil.

“Guy tried to get physical with me. A lot of guys like to do that so I got physical back,” Pickens said. “That’s pretty much it.”

Pickens also delivered a flying stiff-arm to Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste on Sunday. Pickens style of play is certainly unorthodox, but there is an entertaining element to it. He’s an emotional player. And there’s no doubt that he’s an incredibly gifted wide receiver. He’s one of the best in the league when it comes to contested catches.

The Steelers now have two big-bodied wideouts in George Pickens and Mike Williams. Williams had the game-winning 32-yard touchdown catch against the Commanders in his Steelers debut after being traded by the New York Jets prior to the trade NFL deadline last Tuesday.

“There is this dynamic of the long ball that wasn’t there before,” former NFL wide receiver Nate Burleson said of Wilson’s vintage moon ball on CBS’ NFL Today. “And you see the growth of Pickens and that combination with Russell Wilson throwing that looping moon ball. It’s not a 50/50 ball when it’s him and the DB. It’s more like 90/10, 95/5. Like that guy is showing up every time that ball is up in the air, so I just appreciate Mike Tomlin for making that decision.”