George Pickens injury update: Steelers WR status revealed vs. Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens has been ruled inactive for Week 14’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns with a hamstring injury.

Pickens was on the team’s injury report throughout the week and was limited on Friday’s report. He’s the team’s leading receiver with 55 recepions for 850 yards and three touchdowns this season. However, Calvin Austin, who was a full participant in Friday’s practice, did not appear on Pittsburgh’s inactive list for Week 14.

Below is the full inactive list for both squads:

Steelers Inactives

No. 4 QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
No. 14 WR George Pickens
No. 27 DB Cory Trice Jr.
No. 64 OG Max Scharping
No. 94 DE Dean Lowry

Browns Inactives

No. 2 QB Bailey Zappe (3rd QB)
No. 19 WR Cedric Tillman
No. 27 RB D’Onta Foreman
No. 35 CB Chigozie Anusiem
No. 80 WR Jamari Thrash
No. 92 DT Sam Kamara
No. 96 DE James Houston

The news of Pickens’ injury isn’t the only time his name has been in headlines this week. On Saturday, Pickens was fined $20,462 by the NFL for two unsportsmanlike conduct violations during Week 13’s 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. One of them was for Pickens pointing a finger gun towards the stands after hauling in a 46-yard catch.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided context the decision to sit Pickens ahead of kickoff against the Browns, noting that sitting Pickens was not the original plan.

“George Pickens intended to play today vs. the Browns, but after conversations this morning, the Steelers decided to take a long-term view and not risk the hamstring injury that he suffered at the end of the week,” Schefter wrote on X. “Thus Pickens is inactive.”

For his NFL career thus far, Pickens has reeled in 170 total catches for 2,791 receiving yards and three total touchdowns. They’ll hope to see him back on the field in Week 15.