Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones acknowledged that wide receiver George Pickens needs to be more involved in the offense after the team's 3-5 start. Pickens caught just two passes and played only 57% of offensive snaps in Sunday's overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals, while fellow wideout Ryan Flournoy saw 68% of snaps.
Speaking on 105.3 The Fan, Jones attributed Pickens' limited role to the game plan, which emphasized the run game. "He needs the ball coming his way more, and there's your good case," Jones said. "We get the ball in that direction more, and we press that. We had a really firm game plan to come out there and run that ball."
The Cowboys ran the ball 39 times but gained only 93 yards. When quarterback Dak Prescott dropped back to pass, he targeted CeeDee Lamb 11 times compared to just four targets for Pickens. Flournoy earned more playing time due to his willingness as a blocker in the running game.
Pickens' talent as a pass-catcher is evident, but his effort on plays not designed for him remains a concern. His incomplete game is costing him snaps and could jeopardize his long-term future in Dallas. The Cowboys may consider trading Pickens before the November 10 deadline if they lose to the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.
