George Pickens had another quiet game in the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 8 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. He caught just two of four targets for 48 yards, and through eight games so far, he has recorded only one 100-yard performance.

Pickens’ lack of involvement is becoming harder to ignore, especially with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense continuing to lean heavily on other targets.

After Sunday’s loss, NFL legend Chad Johnson questioned why Dallas wasn’t getting the ball into Pickens’ hands more often and even suggested the receiver could be better off elsewhere.

Chad Johnson Calls Out Cowboys Over George Pickens’ Lack of Targets

During Monday’s episode of the “Nightcap” podcast, Johnson came to Pickens’ defense and took aim at how the Cowboys have used him this season.

“Get him the ball, man. He had 2 of 4 today. What are we doing? Y’all were begging for NFL Youngboy to stay in Dallas doing all this hooping and hollering… Cursed me out, ‘Oh, you hating on the Cowboys. Let Pickens stay here. We want him here.’ And look at what y’all are doing to him,”Johnson said.

When co-host Joe Johnson asked whether Prescott should force-feed Pickens, the former NFL wideout didn’t hesitate.

“Yes, force-feed him. They ain’t got a problem throwing CeeDee [Lamb] 157 balls in one game… He had four targets in a four-quarter game,” Johnson continued.

When his co-hosts suggested Pickens wasn’t giving full effort, Johnson pushed back hard.

“Loafing my [expletive]. Let him go. If he was loafing, you shouldn’t have wanted him there then. Hey, Pick, hold your head up, boy. You good. Just stay locked in. Me and [David] Mulugheta, we’re gonna get you out of there.”

David Mulugheta has represented Pickens since he entered the NFL Draft process in 2022.

Through eight games this season, meanwhile, CeeDee Lamb has been targeted 92 times, catching 60 passes, compared with George Pickens’ 62 targets and 39 receptions.

Lamb has the edge in receiving yards and touchdowns, with 709 yards and six scores to Pickens’ 533 yards and two touchdowns. However, Pickens leads in yards per reception, averaging 13.7 to Lamb’s 11.8.

Lamb currently ranks No. 3 among wide receivers with a PFN WR Impact Score of 89.8, while Pickens sits at No. 19 with a 79.8 grade.

Pickens has had an up-and-down career since the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him No. 52 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. The former Georgia standout led the league in yards per reception at 18.1 in 2023, but his career has also been marked by criticism over his effort during certain stretches.

After three seasons in Pittsburgh, Pickens was traded to the Cowboys along with a 2027 sixth-round pick. The Steelers received a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in return. Pickens went on to have the best season of his career in 2025, recording 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection and was named a second-team All-Pro.

Dallas then placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens in February, which he signed in April. However, his future with the team remains uncertain.

A few weeks ago, head coach Brian Schottenheimer publicly dissected Pickens’ effort, and trade speculation has continued ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.

With Pickens still not getting as many chances as he should, Johnson’s comments have only added to the uncertainty surrounding his future in Dallas.