George Pickens

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said George Pickens’ reduced snaps in Week 5 was due to “load management.”

Pickens plays just 57 percent of the team’s snaps in last week’s loss to the Cowboys and ran a pass route on 20 of the Steelers’ 31 drop backs. Pickens had three catches for 26 yards and appeared disinterested throughout. Tomlin is almost certainly providing cover for the Steelers’ mercurial No. 1 receiver. Pickens will look to get back on track against an exploitable Raiders secondary in Week 6. Pickens has a 28 percent target share and the 19th most air yards among wideouts on the season.