FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys (2-4) are in a rut offensively. After their last two primetime losses against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24-16) and the Green Bay Packers (23-13) in Weeks 5 and 6, the Cowboys have now scored fewer than 20 points in consecutive Dak Prescott starts for the first time since 2019, Jason Garrett's last year as the team's head coach. One of the issues plaguing current Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer's offense is Dallas' 31st-ranked rushing offense (76.0 rushing yards per game).
The Cowboys have run the football on a league-low 32.5% of their plays, and on Thursday, Schottenheimer criticized Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens for his effort as run blocker and how hard he runs when Dallas is trying to run the ball. Dallas' head coach and offensive play-caller feels it is harder to succeed in selling the run to set up play-action passes, with Pickens showing what Schottenheimer perceives as effort that needs improvement on run plays. After practice on Friday, Pickens chose to deflect from directly addressing his head coach's comments and to focus on what the entire Cowboys offense needs to do to fix their lagging run game.
His 1,429 receiving yards in 2025 ranked third in the NFL, and his 428 this season sit outside of the top 10 at No. 12 in the league. "I feel like, like I said, as a team, I feel like run, pass, a lot of stuff, you know what I mean? One week, it was you guys [the media] were saying defense [needs improvement]; one week you're saying this," Pickens said.
"I feel like if you narrow the comments down, you're talking about the team. So most definitely, I feel like as a team, just keep improving." Since the Cowboys acquired Pickens in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May of 2025, he and fellow Pro Bowl wide receiver CeeDee Lamb have become fast friends. Lamb hasn't seen any dip from Pickens despite comments made by people inside or outside the Cowboys' facility about Dallas' explosive wideout.
"I don't think about it [the criticism]. I hang around GP more than pretty much anyone in this building, and I'm always going to be on his side. To answer your question [Lamb shrugged, tilted his head and gave a wry grin].
We're cool man," Lamb said Friday. "He [Pickens] comes in ready to work every opportunity. It doesn't seem to bother him.
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