PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to be without wide receiver George Pickens when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. It’s a tall task, but it’s one they’ve already had success with.
Pickens was ruled out last weekend after he had suffered a hamstring injury in the later portions of the week and the Steelers were still able to pull out an important win over the Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers pass catchers, including tight end Pat Freiermuth, are confident they can do it again.
“Just continue to do what we do. The receiver room has a lot of talent, and so, we need to continue to keep working and keep going this week,” Freiermuth said. “We’ll be fine. We have a lot of confidence in everyone on offense.”
The Steelers were able to get the win in Week 14, but they didn’t have a player with 50+ receiving yards. In fact, it was Freiermuth that led the team with three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Wide receiver Calvin Austin III doesn’t expect that to change this week with Pickens expected to be sidelined once again.
“It’s hard to say anybody is similar to G.P.,” Austin said. “You can’t really emulate that from anyone. Like I said, it’s just gonna be coaches putting us in the best positions, and we’re taking advantage of the positions that we are put in. Everybody in the receiver room has a different skillset, different strengths. The coaching staff knows that, and they know how to put us in position to be able to show that.”
Pickens is undoubtedly the Steelers No. 1 wide receiver with 55 catches for 850 yards on the season. Freiermuth is second with 470 receiving yards followed by Austin with 387 yards.
However, Austin believes that as long as everybody continues to do the job they’re asked to, it can be enough to keep stacking wins until Pickens is healthy enough to return.
“It is gonna take the pack, but we’ve been like that since training camp, sticking together,” Austin said. “It’s gonna take individuals making sure they’re honed in on their assignment, and at the end of the day, just make plays.”