Cowboys' George Pickens accomplishes something he never could with Steelers
Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens — while his immaturity is still on full display — has accomplished a career-first feat with the Dallas Cowboys.
For the first time in Pickens' NFL career, the talented wideout caught touchdowns in back-to-back contests as a Cowboy — which only fuels the argument that his talents were wasted with poor quarterback play in Pittsburgh.
The touchdown passes in question came in the Cowboys' Week 2 victory over the New York Giants and their Week 3 blowout loss to the Chicago Bears, as the connection between Pickens and QB Dak Prescott continues to heat up. The timing couldn't be better for Dallas as WR CeeDee Lamb is expected to miss several weeks with a high ankle sprain.
Pickens' talent was never in question during his time in Pittsburgh — it was his attitude, which Cowboys fans saw crystal clear on an egregious unnecessary roughness penalty vs. Eagles S Reed Blankenship.
Packers’ Matt LaFleur Sends Strong Message on DT Devonte Wyatt Before Cowboys Game
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The Green Bay Packers defense has not missed a beat despite Devonte Wyatt taking over for Kenny Clark.
Micah Parsons may command the headlines for the Green Bay Packers defense, but Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has seen how other defensive stalwarts can help out, as well.
LaFleur offered high praise for DeVonte Wyatt in his efforts during the young season while replacing defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who Green Bay traded for Parsons on Aug. 28.
Wyatt has five tackles, two sacks and two passes defended in Green Bay’s 2-1 start this season, posting a 71.5 grade per Pro-Football Focus — the 30th-best mark out of 120 qualifying interior defensive linemen this season.
Wyatt will try to keep that great play going against Clark and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Arlington, Texas.
Devonte Wyatt is ‘Playing At A High Level’
Wyatt, a first-round pick of the Packers from the 2022 NFL Draft, has started just eight games in his career — three of which have come this year.
Yet, the fact he has been so successful as Green Bay’s primary interion D-lineman isn’t surprising to LaFleur, who saw his leap start in 2024 and continue while Wyatt has played 68 percent of the team’s defensive snaps — he had previously never played more than 50 percent in any single season.
“I think he’s been trending that way, even going back to last year,” LaFleur said. “Certainly, he’s getting more opportunities now, and he’s taking advantage of those.”
Yet, when pressed to detail what has made Wyatt successful, LaFleur had a relatively simple answer.
“I think it’s just playing the game. The more you play it the more you learn,” LaFleur said before going deeper by saying “he’s playing fast, he’s playing at a high level. He’s going a great job fundamentally, just getting off the football, playing with his hands, defeating blocks.”
Perhaps it was Wyatt’s ascent that made Green Bay willing to part with Clark, a three-time Pro Bowler who also was a first-round pick of the Packers in 2016, in the deal for Parsons. Of course, Parsons has put his stamp on the Green Bay defense by posting 1.5 sacks since the trade.
But Wyatt’s success has been keeping the Packers’ exceptional run defense playing at a high level. Green Bay ranked seventh in the NFL in rushing-yards against (99.3) in 2024 yet ranks third in three games (64.3) while allowing the fewest points-against per game (14.7).
“Just really happy with his progress,” LaFleur said.
Matt LaFleur Expects Kenny Clark To Be ‘A Handful’
The Packers are perceived as the better team, since Dallas is just a come-from-behind OT win over the lowly
But LaFleur still expects his former DT to haunt the Packers offense Sunday night.
“He looks really good like he did when he was here,” LaFleur said. “He’s gonna be a handful.”
LaFleur coached him until the trade, and he spoke to what makes Clark special as a player and person.
“I think Kenny is a pro’s pro,” LaFleur said. “I’ve got so much respect for him, as much as anybody that I’ve been around in this game in terms of his approach, his team-first mentality, his willingness to help others and bring guys along. He wasn’t the most vocal guy, but when he talked everybody listened.”
