George Pickens challenges Minkah Fitzpatrick, other DBs

New Pittsburgh wide receiver George Pickens is standing up to defensive backs like Minkah Fitzpatrick in Steelers training camp.

George Pickens may have been a second-round pick, but he’s building up first-round expectations early in his Steelers career.

At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Pickens is clearly a physical threat. He is already leading Pittsburgh receivers in receptions at training camp so chemistry with the quarterbacks is coming along quickly.

Mike Tomlin may downplay his role in the offense but fans can sense there’s something there.

On Monday he checked another box by showing some serious competitiveness during practice.

Steelers: George Pickens challenges Minkah Fitzpatrick, DBs in training camp

“Steelers rookie George Pickens intense in practice,” Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 the Fan tweeted. “After missing one route. He caught the next 4 including a couple of combat catches. He stared at Minkah and others who gave him grief & said ‘don’t say s$&:’ w serious face”

Pickens seems to be bringing exactly the right mindset to training camp if he’s showing that much fight. It’s one thing to stare down a DB. It’s another thing to do it after making such a big statement after making a mistake.

That’s proof he isn’t going to be phased by things not going right. He is proving capable of shaking things off and going after it harder in response.

Pickens won a national championship at Georgia but he never really got to show his true potential across a full season. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, leading the team with 49 catches for 727 yards and eight touchdowns. However, the 2020 season was limited by COVID-19 then he tore his ACL before the 2021 season, playing in four games at the end of the season.

His rookie season in the NFL is looking like his opportunity to show exactly how high his ceiling can be. It should be fun to watch.