George Pickens was the biggest story the Cowboys had going through the early part of the offseason as his contract situation worked its way to an eventual franchise tag, but then the first mandatory workouts arrived, and Pickens showed up with a smile on his face and proceeded to have a strong August camp.
If that has Cowboys fans excited, so should Pickens’ thoughts on where he and CeeDee Lamb rank among the league’s receiving duos. Hint: He thinks they rank highly.
The Dallas Cowboys’ injury report is pretty bare, which is good for an opener, while Quinnen Williams is growing into wearing the captain’s patch. Here is Dallas’ day.
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George Pickens: He and CeeDee Lamb are ‘the best’
For the most part, George Pickens has played loudly but talked quietly during the Dallas Cowboys offseason, displaying a good attitude that Cowboys fans were anxious to see after Dallas declined to offer him a contract extension and instead slapped a franchise tag on him.
On the eve of the season opener on Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants, Pickens opened up and he’s confident. When asked if he and CeeDee Lamb are the best receiver duo in the league, Pickens gave DallasCowboys.com a rather obvious answer.
“Yeah, we definitely think we're the best," Pickens told DallasCowboys.com. "Now, for everybody's brains and mindsets, I don't know what they're going to say. For us, yeah, we're the best."
To put numbers on that, Pickens and Lamb combined for 2,506 receiving yards, the second most in the league after Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, who had 2,512 combined receiving yards.
If so, that could create an interesting matchup, as earlier this week, Giants cornerback Greg Newsome II said he thought New York had "the best cornerback room in the league.” Pickens heard that.
"Yeah, that's definitely how he should feel," Pickens said. "Now, how we should feel, I'd definitely probably say a completely different story. But that's cool that he definitely thinks that, that's cool…"
"I feel like he should definitely feel like that, but I feel like we're definitely not thinking the same thing."
Dallas Cowboys post injury report
Outside of the loss of Tyler Smith for four to six weeks following thumb surgery, Dallas is otherwise mostly healthy going into Sunday night’s game with the Giants. Cowboys offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius (knee) remained limited and is questionable for the game, while defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard (groin) is listed on the report with no official status for Sunday, but he has been a full participant in practice.
Right end Luke Schoonmaker missed Thursday’s practice for what was listed as personal reasons. Practice squad quarterback Joe Milton missed Wednesday’s practice for personal reasons but was back at Thursday’s practice.
Quinnen Williams: Fired up to be captain
Last season's midseason addition via trade, Quinnen Williams, was awarded a captain's "C," as voted on by his teammates, which is quite important to him. Playing on Sunday night, not so much.
"It means a lot," Williams told DallasCowboys.com of being voted captain. "It means a lot of responsibility, and it means leadership, when it comes down — people hearing your voice. It's also a test of how hard you work, because the leaders, and it's a lot of guys that didn't make captain; and not for [lack of] the leadership. These (captains) are extreme leaders.
"It's the way they see me in this organization. It's a big, big task and super dope, and I'm super excited about it."
As for the big stage of Sunday Night Football, he's ambivalent.
Primetime "doesn't really mean much to me," Williams told DallasCowboys.com. "I take advantage of every time I get a chance to put a helmet on, especially for the Cowboys. I just love when I get a chance to line up and play football, especially with the guys in this locker room. So whether it's at one o'clock or a night game at eight o'clock, it really doesn't matter.
"I just enjoy playing football, and I enjoy playing with his team and being alongside them."
When do the Dallas Cowboys play?
Dallas' next game will be on Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants. The 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT kickoff will be televised on NBC as part of its Football Night In America.
Giants' Malik Nabers may or may not play against Cowboys
Star Giants' receiver Malik Nabors, who tore his ACL in Week 4 last year and hasn't played a game since, has been a full go at practice but said he hasn't decided if he'll play Sunday night against Dallas.
"They're leaving that decision up to me," Nabers said Thursday. "I'm very confident on my ability to move. So I'm very confident. Like I said, I put in great work, tested well. I've done tremendous testing. So, overall, I'm good. My confidence is there. It's just when do I want to put it on display?"
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Cowboys WR George Pickens ranks himself, CeeDee Lamb as No. 1
