Steelers' Mike Tomlin addresses latest George Pickens controversy

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that wide receiver George Pickens will play against the 8-6 Cincinnati Bengals this Saturday after Pickens acknowledged he didn't finish a block during a key moment against the Indianapolis Colts because he didn't "want to get an injury." 

"I would like him to be more professional in terms of addressing some of his shortcomings with you guys in order to further add fluidity to the process," Tomlin said about Pickens, per Noah Strackbein of FanNation's All Steelers. "He's not helping himself, he's not helping the process in the manner in which he has dealt with you guys. But the manner in which he deals with you guys is not necessarily the manner in which he deals with us or himself regarding acknowledging where he is or where he needs to go." 

Pickens generated headlines earlier this fall when he seemed to show frustration during a game and via social media over a lack of targets. Tomlin later dismissed that issue as "a pebble in my shoe." 

More recently, the second-year pro visibly quit on a play that could've resulted in a Jaylen Warren touchdown run against the Colts. Tomlin referred to Pickens as "very much a work in progress" on Wednesday. 

"He's got talents, we want to utilize him," Tomlin said about keeping Pickens in the lineup versus Cincinnati. "He's very much in growth and development, but it would be the same if we were winning games or if he said appropriate things with you guys yesterday. You guys might have gone away, but that wouldn't have made me any more comfortable about the process that he's going through that is ongoing and continual, and will continue to require our attention." 

As of late Wednesday afternoon, the ESPN Football Power Index gave a 7-7 Steelers side that has lost three straight games a 3.8% chance to make the playoffs. At that same time, oddschecker listed Pittsburgh as a 1.5-point home underdog against Cincinnati.

"When you're winning and doing your jobs, a lot of the attention and so forth is that," Tomlin added about the latest Pickens-related drama. "When you're not doing your job and losing, you better keep your damn mouth shut and understand that attracts a certain type of attention, as well. Usually, that's vulture-like attention."