PITTSBURGH – Is there trouble brewing in paradise? The Pittsburgh Steelers began the season with a new offensive prospect and a new WR1 at the helm: George Pickens. But if you just give up on games, things could come to a boil between the team and its star wideout.

Pickens was increasingly outgunned by Van Jefferson, and against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, he was outgunned by both Jefferson and Calvin Austin.

Even in crucial parts of the game, the Steelers don’t seem to have Pickens in their game plan. The star wide receiver stood on the sideline for most of the team’s final touchdown drive, which included a critical second-down catch by Brandon Johnson, who was called up from the practice squad for the game. Pickens was on the sidelines during the game.

According to head coach Mike Tomlin, Pickens is in a management situation as the team looks to keep his snap count lower to protect him heading into the season. In just his third NFL season, the team is trying to make a case for keeping the 23-year-old from getting beaten up too much over the course of a season.

“No underlying story,” Tomlin said. Take this to heart, if you will.

Then there is the Pickens side. The wideout spent much of the second half alone on the sideline. On one ride, he sat alone with no one coming to him, and the entire ride took eight minutes and 32 seconds.

And the on-field antics have begun.

Who knows if the losses will just build up and Pickens will have a difficult time. But this trend seems to continue year after year. At some point during the season, the wideout no longer likes the flow of the offense and strikes out. This happened several times last year, including arguments on the sidelines and during interactions on social media.

This year it might start early. Why? Who knows. Pickens is coming off a 100-yard game in Indianapolis that would have included a touchdown and more had he not dropped an easy catch and fumbled the ball. This week he once again let an easy pass slip through his hands.

It’s a mystery what’s going on where we’re sitting right now. The Steelers are 3-2 and are on the wrong end of a losing streak. In between, concerns about their wide receiver grow.

Those worries can go away with a solid performance in Week 6 and no distraction from Pickens. But history tells us that it could grow into something bigger. Tensions could be running high between the Steelers and their new WR1.

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