Steelers’ George Pickens Appears To Find Humor In Post About Injured Teammate Kenny Pickett

The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing dark times after consecutive losses to the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots, both of which are considered two of the worst teams in the entire NFL. The setbacks have left fans frustrated, calling for changes on the team, including calls for legendary coach Mike Tomlin's removal. However, recent social media activity by star wide receiver George Pickens has raised eyebrows and added to the team's woes.

Steelers’ Kenny Pickett Injury Comedy Skit

The beginning of the Steelers' potential downfall in the 2023 season seemed to coincide with the injury to quarterback Kenny Pickett during the game against the Cardinals. Following the painful loss to Arizona, content creator @patrickwcutler_official, who boasts over 304,000 followers on social media, posted a comedy skit related to Pickett's injury.

The skit, somewhat inspired by the iconic film "Napoleon Dynamite," tried to humorously depict Pickett's injury during the Cardinals game. The on-screen text read, "point of view, Pickett against the Cardinals," and showed a character resembling Dynamite dropping back to pass and suffering an injury.

While the intentions behind the skit are not entirely clear, it's generally considered in poor taste to make light of someone's injury. However, the issue escalated when it was noticed that Pickens had liked the post on Instagram. In a broader context, it's essential to consider that liking a social media post may not always convey the intended message. The significance of such an action depends on the individual's intent. Moreover, for those who are not part of the Steelers organization, finding humor in such content might not be perceived as a significant issue. It may be met with some disapproval.

Pickens, who goes by the Instagram handle @1.issue, was among the 46,000+ users who had liked the controversial post. It's unusual for a high-profile football player to randomly like social media posts, and while some may interpret this as merely finding humor in a skit, it raises concerns, given the Steelers' dire situation as they fight for a playoff berth. It's particularly troubling that a teammate would find any aspect of humor in a post about his injured quarterback.

While Pickens has been visibly frustrated, sometimes justified, throughout the majority of the 2023 season, this incident reflects poorly on the 22-year-old receiver. While his intentions may have been innocent or even shared with Pickett himself, it sends a message that Pickens is unconcerned about public perception, whether for better or worse.

Professional athletes are held to high standards of behavior and conduct, both on and off the field. Given the media scrutiny surrounding them, incidents like this can have a lasting impact on a player's image and reputation. A player like Pickens who has had his reputation called into question several times in his young career needs to be more thoughtful. This is not the first time Pickens has made questionable choices on social media during the season. It was reported that Pickens was allegedly upset with Pickett earlier this season and Pickens posted Instagram stories that read “free me” following the Steelers victory against the Tennessee Titans. 

Finding humor in a skit about a quarterback's injury is difficult to comprehend. While comedy often pushes boundaries, it's not meant for a teammate to find amusement in such a situation. Professional athletes are expected to carry themselves with a sense of responsibility, especially considering their media exposure. In times when the team is enduring two of the most significant defeats in recent memory, Pickens' actions speak volumes about his current focus and priorities.

While the incident involving Pickens liking a controversial social media post may seem relatively minor, it has added another layer of concern to the Steelers’ already-troubled season. In the world of professional sports, where every action and statement is scrutinized, such incidents can have far-reaching consequences. As the Steelers strive to salvage their season, it's crucial for players to maintain a high level of professionalism and avoid actions that could distract from the team's goals.

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