thesun
Following the Dallas Cowboys' narrow 33-30 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, owner Jerry Jones has made it clear that wide receiver George Pickens must be more involved in the offense. The defeat dropped Dallas to a 3-5 record after eight games, prompting Jones to demand changes to the team's offensive approach.
Pickens was limited to just two catches for 48 yards against Arizona, a week after recording four receptions for 47 yards in a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The receiver has yet to replicate the form that established him as one of the NFL's top performers last season.
Speaking on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday morning, Jones stated: "He needs the ball coming his direction more." The owner's comments signal a desire to see Pickens more heavily targeted, though he is not considering replacing head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Pickens is currently playing under the franchise tag for the 2026 season, raising questions about his long-term future in Dallas. His reduced involvement has sparked concerns about how effectively the Cowboys are utilizing one of their premier offensive weapons.
Schottenheimer faced scrutiny after both Pickens and fellow star receiver CeeDee Lamb were absent from the field during several crucial moments against Arizona. The coach defended his personnel decisions, insisting they were part of the team's tactical plan.
He explained: "There's certain personnel packages that they don't play in, and there's a reason for that. One of those was the touchdown to [Ryan Flournoy] early. Those guys are involved in a lot of different things, and that's why."
Key Analysis
Pickens' future has also become a talking point ahead of the NFL trade deadline. ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak believes Dallas should consider moving the receiver if they cannot secure his long-term future. Solak wrote: "The Cowboys are 3-5, have George Pickens playing on the tag, don't seem equipped to pay him a market-rate extension and have three quality receivers in Pickens, Lamb and Ryan Flournoy. I continue to think they should move him before the deadline."
Despite the growing scrutiny surrounding the Cowboys' disappointing start, Jones has indicated that Schottenheimer will remain in charge. However, the owner will be hoping his message leads to greater involvement for Pickens as the team looks to turn its season around.
Originally reported by thesun.