The Dallas Cowboys are getting ready for a make-or-break season. Brian Schottenheimer had their offense firing on all cylinders, but the defense left plenty to be desired.
Team owner/general manager Jerry Jones went the extra mile to overhaul that unit in the offseason, and the Cowboys will have plenty of new faces in 2026.
They’re also missing one of their most important faces. Star wide receiver George Pickens has been a no-show, and while this phase of their offseason workouts is voluntary, his situation has raised some eyebrows.
With that in mind, his head coach sent him a not-so-subtle message. When asked about Pickens’ situation, Schottenheimer talked about the little details and building a connection with the team.
Brian Schottenheimer wants George Pickens at OTAs
“More than anything, there is the connection piece that is the most important thing to me,” said Schottenheimer. “This is the time of year where these guys are training, the workouts are a little bit longer, it is more about the strength and weight room program than even the football, quite honestly, working through Phase 1 and Phase 2.”
Of course, just because he isn’t there doesn’t mean he’s not working out.
Veteran players often skip voluntary OTAs and continue to work out their games and bodies on their own, with their own staffs.
That said, Schottenheimer would still want to have one of his most important players developing rapport with his teammates:
“I have no question that George is preparing just like I had no question Micah (Parsons) was going to prepare, or whoever,” Schottenheimer added. “It’s voluntary. But that’s the biggest thing to me, it’s not really the scheme. GP will learn some of the language and stuff that we do, with he and Dak throwing and things like that, the relationship he has with CeeDee, Joe Milton and all those guys. I don’t worry about that. But more than anything it’s just the connection piece.”
Barring a last-second change of heart, Pickens will play next season under the franchise tag.
The Cowboys are reluctant to give him a new deal, so he could still threaten to hold out until he gets the long-term contract extension he’s looking for.
And while the Cowboys have reaffirmed that they expect him to be there for mandatory minicamp, anything can happen.