Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was unexpectedly inactive for the team’s recent game against the Cleveland Browns. The decision came after the third-year player was dealing with an injury that raised concerns about his availability. While details remain limited, Pickens’ absence from the game has sparked concern among NFL fans. 

In this article, we will delve into why Pickens was absent from a recent game.

Here’s why George Pickens is inactive

Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was unexpectedly inactive for the team’s 27-14 victory over the Browns, a decision that stemmed from a late-week hamstring injury. Pickens appeared on the practice report with the injury on Friday and was listed as questionable for the game, with the initial optimism that he would play. However, after discussions with athletic trainers and Pickens on Sunday morning, head coach Mike Tomlin opted to sideline the wideout.

Tomlin explained after the game, “We didn’t feel like he was going to be able to play the type of number of snaps that we thought would be worth putting him in a uniform. To be quite honest with you, we didn’t want a small problem to become a big problem, and so we put a helmet on Scotty Miller.” The coach added that the team instead gave chance to Scotty Miller, who contributed effectively in Pickens’ absence. (via ESPN)

This marked Pickens’ first missed game in his NFL career. He revealed that the receiver is dealing with a grade 2 hamstring strain, leaving his availability for the Steelers’ upcoming game against the Philadelphia Eagles uncertain. This decision comes just a week after Tomlin publicly criticized Pickens to “grow up” following a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a previous game.

Despite the absence of their top receiver, the Steelers managed to secure the win, with Tomlin emphasizing the importance of prioritizing Pickens’ long-term health over short-term risks.