Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is expected to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns but the team wants to test his injured hamstring before the game to make sure he’s good to go, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Pickens popped up on the injury report Friday as questionable to play with a hamstring injury. He was a limited participation in practice but did speak to the media afterward.

The Steelers are aiming to avenge a loss last month to the Browns. Pickens made headlines after that game when he said he didn’t think the Browns were “a good team at all.” He also got into a scuffle with Cleveland defensive back Greg Newsome on the game’s final play.

Pickens, the Steelers’ top receiver, has 55 receptions for 850 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Steelers predicted to add 23-TD, 6’1 WR to pair with George Pickens

The Pittsburgh Steelers have exceeded expectations in 2024, as the team is 9-3 and atop the AFC North through 13 weeks. Mike Tomlin’s squad picked up a critical divisional victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 and will host the Cleveland Browns in Week 14 at Acrisure Stadium.

The Steelers offense has been one of the primary reasons for Pittsburgh’s success this season, as quarterback Russell Wilson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith have completely transformed the unit into a dynamic group capable of scoring in multiple ways. But the offense still has some glaring weaknesses, especially at wide receiver.

George Pickens has established himself as one of the best young receivers in football, and Calvin Austin III has emerged since Wilson took over as the starter in Week 7, but the Steelers lack much talent at wide receiver.

General manager Omar Khan will likely look to add another playmaker this offseason, and Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer predicts Pittsburgh will select Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Steelers need to give George Pickens a true No. 2 option, and Egbuka is the classic Buckeyes prospect with great hands, smooth route-running, and big-play flair.

Egbuka has been a starter at Ohio State for three seasons and is having another solid campaign in 2024, hauling in 60 catches for 743 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games thus far. The Washington native is a brilliant route runner with underrated speed who does a fantastic job beating man coverage, as the senior receiver has posted an 84.0 PFF grade against man coverage this year.

If Egbuka is on the board when the Steelers are selecting late in the first round, it would be a savvy pick by Omar Khan. The star Buckeye wide receiver is experienced and battle-tested, and his excellence in the intermediate passing game would pair well with George Pickens. Egbuka would also be an excellent security blanket in Pittsburgh’s offense and play the slot receiver role at a high level.

There are more exciting wide receiver prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Emeka Egbuka would be a seamless fit in Arthur Smith’s offense.