Cowboys WR George Pickens sends new defiant message to critics

For the first time since immediately after he came under fire for his play in the Dallas Cowboys' Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions, Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens met with media members on Wednesday. 

Per ESPN's Todd Archer and The Athletic's Jon Machota, Pickens insisted during his comments that he is focusing on Dallas' home game versus the Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) this coming Sunday. However, he also indicated that he is tired of being a target of criticism. 

George Pickens wants to move on from past games

"It’s starting to get kinda old, honestly," Pickens said about the subject. 

Some accused Pickens of running lazy routes during the Lions game, and former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman even said Pickens looked "uninterested in playing football" at Detroit's Ford Field. Pickens later clapped back at Sherman, which led to first-year Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer speaking with the wideout about that reply and about the player's performances. 

Pickens then failed to help his cause when he was held to just three catches for 33 yards in Dallas' Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The 6-7-1 Cowboys now need what team owner and general manager Jerry Jones referred to as a "miracle" to make the playoffs. 

George Pickens thinks people are rooting against him?

On Wednesday, Pickens hinted that he believes some were waiting for him to have lackluster outings as a Cowboy.

"That's definitely what it felt like, but I can't really get into that. Everybody's got a job to do…" Pickens explained, per Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' website. "Some people's job is to do that, tear down character, see how much clicks they can get, but I'm just here to play football and help the team honestly."

Pickens remains in the final year of his contract, and Jones has said on numerous occasions that he wants the 24-year-old to play for Dallas beyond Week 18. According to previous reports, the Cowboys are prepared to retain Pickens' rights for 2026 via the franchise tag. 

"All I can do is just keep one day forward and keep going," Pickens responded when asked on Wednesday about possibly being tagged in early 2026.