Sports · American Football · 5 hrs ago
Cowboys coach challenges George Pickens to contribute more in run game
Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer challenged receiver George Pickens to contribute more when the team runs the ball.
Schottenheimer said Pickens needs to block defenders and help protect the quarterback, even when he is not catching passes.
Dallas is 2-4 and its offense is struggling, including a rushing attack ranked 31st in the NFL.
Pickens had 1,429 receiving yards in 2025, but has 428 through six games this season.
His receiving production is down, and he has one touchdown this season, compared with nine last year.
Schottenheimer also accepted responsibility, saying he needs to coach better and that the Cowboys have to play better.
He plans to call more runs to help running back Javonte Williams find a rhythm, but said Dallas needs to avoid falling behind early in games.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer challenged receiver George Pickens to contribute more to the running game.
Schottenheimer said Pickens needs to block and help pick up blitzes, even when he is not catching passes.
Dallas has started the 2026 season 2-4 and has struggled to run the ball and score.
Pickens has 428 receiving yards this season, compared with 1,429 in 2025.
Schottenheimer also said he needs to coach better and plans to call more runs to help the offense.
- Who
- Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer challenged receiver George Pickens.
- What
- Schottenheimer said Pickens needs to help the running game by blocking and picking up blitzes.
- When
- Schottenheimer addressed the issue on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Dallas is struggling offensively, including with its running game, and Schottenheimer said Pickens affects how defenses play.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pickens recorded 1,429 receiving yards.
Dallas started 2-4, and Pickens had 428 receiving yards.
Schottenheimer challenged Pickens to contribute more to the running game and said he needed to coach better.
- Cowboys record
- 2-4
- Pickens receiving yards, 2025
- 1,429
- Pickens receiving yards, 2026
- 428
- Cowboys rushing offense rank
- 31st in the NFL
- Dallas motion rate, 2026
- 42.7%, ranked 31st in the NFL
2 sources
What people are saying
He needs to understand that he impacts us in the running game as well.
We got to play better. I got to coach better.
I think it starts with calling more runs, which requires being in more, I keep using the word normal, close games where you're not having a play from behind.
Posts on X
Brian Schottenheimer has been asked what the coaches can do to get George Pickens more involved. I asked Schottenheimer today what more Pickens can do himself to get involved. “I think GP is one of those guys where I don't ever see him really affected in terms of the emotion of,