Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Admits George Pickens Absolutely Makes Him Nervous

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense has turned back into a struggling one over the past three games. Many have been frustrated about the way this offense has called plays under Arthur Smith as of late. With Russell Wilson taking over, the offense had a big spark, but things have looked different recently. George Pickens was having a great season before his injury, but since returning to the lineup, the Steelers offense has still struggled to give him consistent opportunities.

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently weighed in on the situation, specifically highlighting the lack of targets Pickens gets over the middle of the field. Roethlisberger believes the Steelers are missing chances to fully utilize Pickens’ talent by avoiding short and intermediate routes across the middle. These types of plays could give Pickens more space to operate and showcase his ability to gain yards after the catch.

Roethlisberger emphasized that Pickens isn’t just a deep-ball receiver—he has the physicality and explosiveness to excel in the short passing game. By scheming plays to get him the ball in stride, the Steelers could add a new dimension to their offense and give their star wide receiver more opportunities to make game-changing plays. As the season progresses to the playoffs, all eyes will be on Smith and whether he adjusts his game plan to maximize Pickens' potential.

"Getting him running is a good thing," Roethlisberger said. "He’s a strider, and instead of just catching the deep ball and going out of bounds, get him some crossing stuff, skinny posts, and some comebacks. I know he can change direction. I would love to see him now he’s running deep, put his foot in the ground, and hit him on a deep comeback."

Roethlisberger made an interesting point about Pickens' playing style. When Pickens catches the ball, there’s always a sense of unpredictability—he often secures it with one hand while making plays, which can be nerve-wracking for Steelers fans. 

It’s a risky approach that has caused anxious moments, and Roethlisberger jokingly suggested that might be why Smith and the Steelers offense shy away from targeting Pickens over the middle of the field.

"I do get nervous because every time he catches the ball, he’s holding it with one hand," Roethlisberger said. "It makes me nervous and I’m always like, oh man. So maybe that’s part of the reason they don’t want him running over the middle of the field with the ball exposed like that."

Roethlisberger was clearly joking when he made the comment, and it’s unlikely that Pickens’ ball security plays a significant role in why the Steelers avoid targeting him over the middle. However, there’s always a small chance the coaching staff fears he could be responsible for a costly turnover. That said, history shows that good things typically happen when Pickens gets the ball in his hands.

Steelers' George Pickens Playing With Ben Roethlisberger Would've Been Awesome

It would be wise for the Steelers to start scheming more opportunities for Pickens, giving him different ways to showcase his talent. Roethlisberger never had the chance to throw to Pickens, but imagining the two together is exciting. With Roethlisberger’s ability to push the ball downfield and control an offense, Pickens would have had countless opportunities to prove why he’s one of the league’s best wide receivers.

Unfortunately for Pickens, he’s never truly been part of an offense built around his strengths during his time in Pittsburgh. That makes his production so far even more impressive. Hopefully, as the season progresses, Pickens will get more chances to make an impact—especially in the postseason—where his playmaking ability could create nightmares for opposing secondaries.

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