Steelers Pro Bowl WR Diontae Johnson on rookie George Pickens: 'That's a special talent'
Even before this past Saturday's preseason-opening 32-25 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver George Pickens was earning high praise from onlookers who had seen him work during training camp.
Pickens was named among "must-see NFL rookies in the preseason" and then caught three passes for 43 yards versus Seattle. One of those grabs was a 26-yard touchdown reception that featured the 21-year-old expertly keeping both feet in play while he completed the catch in the corner of the end zone.
"He's a freak, that's what he is," Steelers star receiver Diontae Johnson said of Pickens, per Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "He's a freak. That's a special talent. You can't teach some of the things he does. I just be watching like, man, I be amazed at how he catches the ball sometimes. He's young. He's getting better on the daily."
That's high praise coming from Johnson, who earned a Pro Bowl nod after he finished the 2021 season leading the team with 107 catches, 1,161 receiving yards and eight touchdown grabs.
"It's going to be a big plus," Johnson added about Pittsburgh drafting Pickens, which has been called the club's best overall offseason move. "They're not going to be able to cover everyone. They can't double everyone. There's always going to be a one-on-one matchup, it's up to the defense who they're going to cover."
As things stand heading into Saturday's exhibition game at the Jacksonville Jaguars, veteran quarterback Mitchell Trubisky remains the favorite to win the Pittsburgh starting job over career backup Mason Rudolph and rookie Kenny Pickett. Trubisky would do well to ensure he and Pickens are reading from the same page of the same book before the Steelers play at the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 on Sept. 11.
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