George Pickens Refutes Idea that Him and Russell Wilson Weren’t on the Same Page During Interception
PITTSBURGH — Wide receiver George Pickens and Russell Wilson were very clearly not on the same page when Wilson threw an interception in the end zone against the Kansas City Chiefs last Wednesday. But don’t ask him about it.
Wilson had Pat Freiermuth running from the right to the middle of the field and George Pickens on his left, against two high Kansas City safeties. Pickens ran short and to the sideline, while Freiermuth ran to the middle of the field. Wilson threw into triple coverage, resulting in a game-breaking Justin Reid interception.
Netflix color broadcaster Nate Burleson put the blame for the interception on Pickens not running a deeper route to distract Reid during the broadcast, and several other former NFL players, including former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also criticized Pickens’ effort on the play.
Wilson took responsibility for the interception — and head coach Mike Tomlin said Pickens’ route-running had “zero” to do with the fact that the ball was picked off — but Wilson said that he was expecting Pickens to get vertical. Pickens did nearly the exact opposite of that, running a short route to the sideline.
Asked about him and Wilson not being on the same page, and what they had done to correct it on Thursday, Pickens refused to answer.
SN: George, it seemed like you and Russ weren’t on the same page on that interception against the Chiefs. How does that happen and what do you guys do to address it?
Pickens: You said me and Russ wasn’t on the same page?
SN: Yeah, well that’s what he said.
Pickens: That’s what he said, or that’s what you said?
SN: That’s what he said.
Pickens: Ah, OK.
SN: How do you just address that?
At that point, Pickens ended the interview.
Perhaps Pickens disagrees with the notion that he and his veteran quarterback weren’t on the same page. I’m not sure what other plausible explanation there could be for Wilson expecting Pickens to go vertical and Pickens not having done so.
Read This Next
