The Pittsburgh Steelers got revenge on the Cleveland Browns, winning 27-14 at home in Week 14. The Steelers had a slow start in the first quarter, but found their rhythm as Russell Wilson led the offense to a commanding performance. The victory not only avenged an earlier loss to Cleveland, but also propelled Pittsburgh to a strong 10-3 record. However, the game wasn’t without pre-game drama, as the absence of a key player raised eyebrows.
Joshua Gunter / Cleveland.com
Steelers' George Pickens fighting with Greg Newsome II after a loss to the Cleveland Browns in 2024.
Star wide receiver George Pickens, who had been hyped for a showdown with Browns defensive back Greg Newsome II, was ruled inactive moments before kickoff. The sudden announcement shocked fans, especially with the rivalry brewing between the two players leading into the game.
This is a very fishy situation with George Pickens. There’s more than meets the eye.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) December 8, 2024
Some speculated that Pickens might have been benched as a disciplinary measure, but the team officially cited a hamstring injury as the reason for his absence.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin addressed the situation after the game, providing clarity on Pickens' status. Tomlin confirmed that the wide receiver’s injury was the sole factor in the decision, emphasizing the team’s focus on keeping players healthy for the long haul. While Pickens' presence was missed, the Steelers stepped up to deliver a decisive win against their division rivals.
"GP was listened as questionable," Tomlin said. "We didn’t feel like he was going to be able to play the type of number of snaps that we thought would be worth putting him in a uniform to be quite honest with you. We didn’t want a small problem to become a big problem and so we put a helmet on Scotty Miller and as you can see, most of the time when you put a helmet on the healthy guys. Man, they take care of the rest."
In Pickens' absence, wide receiver Scotty Miller rose to the occasion, earning praise from Tomlin for his contributions.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Scotty Miller catches a pass during a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills in 2024.
Miller stepped up and delivered a solid performance, catching three passes for 38 receiving yards, helping to fill the void left by Pickens.
"Scotty made some plays for us," Tomlin said. "We are thankful for that. That is another example of the team component of this game man. You can waste a lot of time worried about the guys that are not available to you. We choose to focus our energies on the guys that are available to us… tip of the hat to Scotty Miller for stepping up and making some big plays for us."
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Has Taken This Approach Before
Tomlin was unwilling to take any chances with Pickens' hamstring injury, opting for a cautious approach to avoid further complications. This strategy has been a hallmark of Tomlin's decisions during the 2024 season, as seen when he held Jaylen Warren out earlier in the year for precautionary reasons, even though Warren was eager to play.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens gets a talking to by Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
With the postseason on the horizon, Tomlin made it clear that ensuring Pickens’ health for the critical games ahead was the top priority. While some Steelers fans might try to stir unnecessary controversy, the reality is simple: Pickens was listed as questionable, and both Tomlin and the Steelers deemed it unwise to risk aggravating his injury by having him play.
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