Fans of the Dallas Cowboys can be thankful for the George Pickens news ahead of their annual Thanksgiving Day game.
The budding star Cowboys wide receiver is reportedly slated to suit up against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13 despite nursing leg injuries throughout the short week of practice.
Pickens is coming off a massive performance in Dallas’ come-from-behind 24-21 win over the rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. He had 146 yards on nine catches and a touchdown, Pickens’ second straight nine-catch, 140-plus-yard, one-touchdown game in a Cowboys win.
The Cowboys (5-5-1) are in the mix for the final NFC wild-card spot, sitting 1.5 games behind the Detroit Lions for the final playoff seed. In his first season in Dallas, Pickens leads the Cowboys with 67 receptions for 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns.
George Pickens Is Going To Play Thursday
The Cowboys offense has been humming all year, and the connection with Dak Prescott and Pickens has been a huge reason why. Dallas ranks fourth in the NFL in points per game (29.1), and Pickens has gotten 23.1 percent of Prescott’s targets and 24.2 percent of his completions this year.
Between his prowess, and CeeDee Lamb’s sudden drop issues, the Cowboys really need Pickens to play, especially against the three-time-reigning AFC champs. Both teams need the game, since KC (6-5) is also chasing down the final playoff spot, but Pickens is arguably the second-most important offensive player for Dallas, behind only Prescott.
Luckily, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Pickens is OK, despite the short week, to suit up Thursday.
“Despite being limited by calf and knee injuries in practice this week, Cowboys WR George Pickens is expected to play on Thanksgiving against the Chiefs, per source,” Russini reported.
The Cowboys Are Trying To Lock Up George Pickens Long Term
Perhaps the bigger news that has broken this week about Pickens is his contract status. The Cowboys acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers — and parted with just a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick — due to him entering his final year of his rookie contract this year.
But according to Russini, the Cowboys are looking to pay the 52nd overall pick from the 2022 NFL Draft.
“The Cowboys are set to give Pickens a contract this offseason,” Russini reported. “Rival executives are still shaking their heads at the return Jones squeezed out of the Steelers â and how this might be looked at as the Cowboys trade of the year.”
Jones was asked about the prospect of Pickens playing the 2026 in another club and said on his weekly radio appearance with KRLD “I do not at this time.” Yet, according to Russini, there could be a bigger hang up about negotiations with the potential 1A receiver: his agent.
“Because nothing in the NFL is ever simple â or boring â guess who his representative is? NFL superagent David Mulugheta,” Russini reported. “Yep. The same agent who represents Micah Parsons. The same agent Jerry Jones said he didnât know and didnât want to talk to during Parsonsâ extension discussions over the summer.”
That may cause alarm bells to go off for Cowboys fans. But Russini assuaged all fears of another Parsons-caliber distraction.
“From what Iâm told, thereâs no drama brewing here,” Russini posted. “Everyone is expected to handle it professionally.”
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