Jerry Jones made it clear that he wants the Cowboys to get George Pickens more involved. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer may want to take note.
Pickens played 42 of Dallas’ 74 offensive snaps in its 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Aside from last season’s meaningless regular-season finale, it was the lowest share of snaps he has played in an NFL game. He was targeted just four times.
“He needs the ball coming his way more,” Jones said in a radio interview, adding that Dallas should look for ways to get the ball to Pickens more often.
Jones said the Cowboys had a clear plan to run the ball, but struggled to make it work. Dallas had 39 carries for 93 yards, while Arizona’s defensive line delivered a performance that Jones said caught him off guard.
Pickens appeared frustrated after the loss, sprinting toward the locker room after the Cardinals kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime.
His four targets came a week after he was targeted six times in a win over Philadelphia. Through eight games, Pickens has 39 catches for 533 yards and two touchdowns. At this point last season, he was on pace for a much bigger year, finishing with 93 catches, 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.
Jones may be especially concerned about Pickens’ limited role given his $27.289 million salary under the franchise tag. He had hoped Pickens and CeeDee Lamb would form one of the league’s leading receiving duos and help drive a playoff run.
Instead, Dallas is 3-5, and with Pickens set to become a free agent after the season, some fans are wondering whether the team could trade him for future assets. Jones, meanwhile, wants the Cowboys and Pickens to get back on track Sunday against the struggling Indianapolis Colts.
