George Pickens has made it clear that he wishes to continue his career with the Dallas Cowboys, even after facing a recent benching for disciplinary reasons. The wide receiver, who is in the final year of his contract, indicated that the benching has not influenced his desire to remain with the team beyond this season.
In a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night, both Pickens and teammate CeeDee Lamb were sidelined for the first offensive series due to missing curfew after a dinner outing. Despite this setback, Pickens bounced back remarkably, leading the Cowboys with nine receptions for 144 yards and scoring a touchdown in their 33-16 victory, which improved their record to 4-5-1.
Following the game, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer expressed his support for Pickens, stating he is “very in favor of George having a long-term future with us.” Pickens, when asked about his future with the Cowboys, stated, “I”d love to be back, especially with , all the guys really.” He also acknowledged a report suggesting that the Cowboys are likely to retain his rights via the franchise tag for the 2026 season, though he refrained from commenting on how he would feel about being tagged.
As noted by ESPN”s Todd Archer, Pickens emphasized the importance of his relationship with Schottenheimer, mentioning, “Me and Schotty, I think we”re still getting even closer and closer.” He elaborated that as the season progresses, they have been bonding more, especially after the loss of teammate Marshawn Kneeland, which brought the team closer together.
Heading into the upcoming home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Pickens leads the Cowboys with 908 receiving yards, 83 targets, and seven touchdown catches, tied with tight end Jake Ferguson. Ferguson leads the team with 60 receptions, while Pickens follows closely with 58.
As discussions about his future loom, Pickens remains focused on helping the Cowboys secure a playoff spot as they navigate the latter part of the season.
