It sure feels like there’s something going with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. However, if you ask HC Mike Tomlin, there isn’t.

After playing just 35 total offensive snaps in Week 5’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys (3-26-0 on seven targets) — the fewest offensive snaps he’s played yet in any NFL game (regular or postseason) in his career per NFL Next Gen Stats — Tomlin says that he was limited due to “snap management” and not because he was benched or any other underlying story.

Mike Tomlin says George Pickens was limited because of “snap management” — compared it to resting and rotating defensive lineman like Cam Heyward — and there’s “no underlying story”

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 7, 2024

If there is any truth to Tomlin’s comments, it seems like a gross injustice for an offense already struggling at WR with very little depth beyond Pickens, counting on wideouts Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III along with TE Pat Freiermuth — the only players to run more than 20 routes on the day — it feels like there’s something deeper going on there.

If there’s not, consider it a pretty significant failure on the coaching staff, with the Steelers averaging just 4.3 yards per pass attempt to the Cowboys’ 7.6, despite managing to limit turnovers through the air.

After once holding the lead in the AFC North, the Steelers now share a 3-2 record with the Baltimore Ravens, with the Ravens earning first place in the division standings thanks to a 1-0 divisional record after Week 5’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers have yet to face an AFC North opponent.