Steelers’ Jaylen Warren Criticizes Teammate George Pickens: ‘I would have blocked for him’

Even though George Pickens didn’t block for him during Pittsburgh’s 30–13 defeat to the Colts on Saturday, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren told reporters on Wednesday that he would have risked his life to do so.

Steelers’ Jaylen Warren Criticizes Teammate George Pickens: ‘I would have blocked for him’

“It is what it is,” Warren said, per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “At the end of the day, [Pickens] was doing what he thought was best for him. Some people play the game differently. If I was in that position, I would have blocked for him. But we play differently.”

On a run near the goal line on Saturday, Steelers wide receiver George Pickens failed to block running back Jaylen Warren. When he explained why, he made matters worse.

Citing Texans receiver Tank Dell’s season-ending injury sustained on a running play at the goal line a few weeks prior, Pickens acknowledged that he didn’t want to take a chance on getting hurt.

When asked on Wednesday how the locker room responded to George Pickens’ remarks last Saturday during the Steelers’ defeat to the Colts, the head coach of the club, Mike Tomlin, said that he was afraid of being hurt while blocking for teammate Jaylen Warren.

“Ask them,” Tomlin said, via the Tribune-Review.

Warren was questioned by the media about his teammates’ lack of effort on the play and his justification for it.

“I see where he’s coming from,” Warren said, via the Post-Gazette. “It is what it is. At the end of the day, he was doing what he thought was best for him.”

Pickens’ egregious lack of effort on the play in issue gives Warren plenty cause for resentment.

Late in the first quarter of a 0-0 game, quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw Warren to the left near the goal line, but Pickens gave the effect of a mannequin.

Pittsburgh (7-7) is one game behind the Bengals and Colts, who are the sixth and seventh seeds, respectively, and Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Houston, and Buffalo.

Regarding why Pickens will play, Tomlin stated, “He’s got talents.” “We want to utilize them. He’s very much in growth and development, but it would be the very same if we were winning games or he said appropriate things with you guys (Tuesday).”

 

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