FRISCO, Texas (AP) 鈥� George Pickens isn’t with the Dallas Cowboys during the opening week of voluntary offseason practices, while coach Brian Schottenheimer says the receiver is 鈥渢aking care of his business鈥� and their communication has been good.
a little more than a month ago but has stayed away from the team. The Pro Bowler isn’t required to show up until mandatory minicamp June 16-18.
鈥淐ommunicated with (Pickens) yesterday,鈥� Schottenheimer said Thursday. 鈥淗e’s got a football camp this weekend that he’s doing. So communication is good, and as you guys know it’s voluntary and he’s taking care of his business.鈥�
Pickens waited two months before signing the one-year contract that’s worth three times what the 25-year-old earned on his four-year rookie contract.
Pickens told the Cowboys before the draft in April that he , prompting speculation that Dallas might try to trade him. The Cowboys made it clear they had no such plans. He signed the tag about a week later.
Acquired last year in a Pickens thrived alongside CeeDee Lamb, finishing with career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offenses in the NFL last season.
Lamb is going into the second year of a $136 million, four-year contract that ranks him fourth among NFL receivers with an average annual value of $34 million.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said the club has long-term plans for Pickens, who has spent time in the offseason with quarterback Dak Prescott.
鈥淚’m not sure exactly what they do,鈥� Schottenheimer said. 鈥淵ou guys know Dak does a great job working with all the guys, whether they鈥檙e here, whether it鈥檚 this time of year, whether it is in the summer, they always go someplace. They鈥檒l go someplace this summer and train and throw, and it鈥檚 a chance for them to develop their timing.鈥�
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