Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has clarified his decision not to execute a crucial block for a teammate during Saturday’s defeat against the Indianapolis Colts.
Following online criticism for his failure to block for running back Jaylen Warren near the end zone, Pickens addressed the situation with reporters on Tuesday. He pointed to a recent incident involving Houston Texans WR Tank Dell as a reference, explaining that he was cautious about avoiding a similar injury.
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“I was just trying to prevent the Tank Dell situation, the same thing that happened to (him). I ain’t want to get an injury. When you stay on the block too low, you can get ran up on very easily,” Pickens stated.
Dell, a Texans rookie, suffered a broken left fibula while attempting to make a block against the Denver Broncos earlier in the month. Although the circumstances were different, Pickens’ reluctance to put himself in harm’s way is perhaps understandable.
While injuries are an inherent risk in football, and some players across the league are willing to take such risks, it appears that Pickens is not inclined to be one of them. Critics argue that, given the nature of professional football, where injuries are a part of the game, if Pickens is apprehensive about getting injured, football might not be the right fit for him.
