Earlier this week, Dallas Cowboys
wide receiver George Pickens insisted that he is “happy” the Cowboys earned a 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders on Sept. 20, even though he largely took a backseat to fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb regarding their roles in the Dallas offense that afternoon.
During a Friday appearance on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones offered a strong prediction regarding Pickens’ future.
Jerry Jones: George Pickens will be among the “top reception leaders in the league” this season
“George will get his,” Jones said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. “There’s no doubt in my mind that when the dust has settled he will absolutely be right there with the top reception leaders in the league in my mind.”
Against the Commanders, Lamb recorded eight receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Over Dallas’ first two games, he tallied 13 receptions for 197 yards and three scores. To compare, Pickens had nine catches for 68 yards and zero touchdowns over the campaign’s first two weeks.
Pickens is basically in a contract year after the Cowboys retained his rights for 2026 via the franchise tag worth roughly $27.3M. History shows he could eventually grow frustrated if he continues to be a distant second on the team in receiving stats, but Jones clearly isn’t concerned about that happening anytime soon.
“It’s hard to overstate George Pickens’ role and how good of a teammate he is,” Jones added about Pickens, according to Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News. “He’s outstanding. He creates energy among his teammates because he loves to play the game out there. And he has such ability, that, plus his attitude and recognizing how effective he can be, makes him a valuable teammate. There’s no question Lamb does benefit from him being out there.”
Jerry Jones trusts Brian Schottenheimer regarding the Cowboys’ rushing attack
Meanwhile, ESPN stats show that the Cowboys will head into the weekend ranked 30th in the NFL with an average of 67.5 rushing yards per game for the season. Jones believes head coach Brian Schottenheimer will fix that aspect of the Dallas offense, beginning when the 1-1 Cowboys face the 1-1 Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this coming Sunday.
“The last thing I’m worried about is Schottenheimer making sure we get balance in the running game and passing game,” Jones said. “If you see us out of kilter, it’s because the defense has really given us that. Schottenheimer will take care of it.”
One wonders how Jones’ faith in Schottenheimer could be impacted if the Cowboys fall to 1-2. Shortly after Jones’ radio segment wrapped up, DraftKings Sportsbook had Dallas listed as a 3.5-point underdog against Baltimore.