Prescott and Lamb push back against George Pickens trade rumors

The Dallas Cowboys are 3-5 with five games remaining before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. The roster includes 25-year-old wide receiver George Pickens, who is playing under a franchise tag for the 2026 season.

Trade speculation has grown after head coach Brian Schottenheimer criticized Pickens following a 23-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers. In that game, the Cowboys rushed for just 48 yards, a season-low. Schottenheimer singled out Pickens in his postgame remarks. Since then, the coaching staff has adjusted how they use the receiver.

Quarterback Dak Prescott and wideout CeeDee Lamb both dismissed the talk of a deal this week. They argued that Pickens is a key part of the current offense and that his role has been reduced by recent injuries. Prescott said the team believes Pickens will stay and that he will be extended when he becomes eligible in the 2027 offseason.

Lamb credited Pickens for his own strong start to the season. Lamb is third in the league with 60 catches and 709 receiving yards. He is also tied for second with six receiving touchdowns. Lamb noted that Pickens had 1,429 receiving yards last year, which ranked third in the NFL. In the current season, Pickens has 533 receiving yards, which ranks 16th.

Snap counts show a shift in the offense since Week 7. Lamb has played on 106 offensive snaps. Ryan Flournoy, the team's No. 3 wideout, has played on 98 snaps. Pickens has played on 79 snaps. In terms of targets, Lamb has 23 over the last few weeks. Pickens has 10 targets, while Flournoy has 8.

The team attributed some of the reduced playing time to Pickens dealing with shoulder and hamstring issues. He is listed with only a hamstring injury heading into the Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Prescott said Pickens has been a great teammate who does whatever is asked, whether it is blocking or running routes.

"People say a lot of things I don't believe, so I'm not listening to that one, either," Prescott said when asked about the trade chatter. He added that Pickens believes in doing the right thing and that the ball will come his way at times.

Lamb said the two have a simple conversation: stay ready. "Just when his time comes, I know that he is going to be ready," Lamb said. He advised Pickens to move on from recent struggles and use them as fuel to perform at practice.

Prescott said the key to getting Pickens involved again lies in the game plan. He suggested that the coaching staff needs to include plays that feature Pickens early in the game. He indicated that changes to the starter sequencing and the play list for upcoming games will likely determine Pickens' role moving forward.